SEVEN tonnes of waste was dumped in a country lane, leaving taxpayers with a £900 clean-up bill.

Paving, sods of earth, wooden panelling and empty sacks of post cement were left near Kidlington this week.

Cherwell District Council said the waste – reported by a member of the public – could be from a garden renovation.

Two council workers spent more than five hours clearing the mess, which was then taken to landfill, on Thursday.

Man hours, fuel and landfill taxes levied against the council is about £900, spokesman Jemma Callow said.

Lead member for clean and green Nigel Morris said: “With an incident such as this someone has deliberately gone out of their way to dump their waste and avoid paying to have it disposed of correctly.

“However, in doing so the bill has now been passed on to the taxpayer.”

The council believes it was dumped between 7pm on Tuesday and 1pm on Wednesday in an unclassified lane between Hampton Gay and Bletchingdon.

Anyone with information is urged to call the council on 01295 227007 or 01295 227983. Calls will be treated in confidence.