A CHARITY has begged flytippers to stop targeting their shop.

The South Essex Animal Trust shop in Rayleigh Road, Eastwood, has had huge piles of household rubbish dumped on its doorstep three times since Christmas.

The charity believes a house clearance operation is using the novel approach to dispose of unwanted items by dumping them outside the charity shop rather than taking them to a tip and possibly avoiding disposal costs.

Veronica Smith, a volunteer at the shop, said the inconsiderate flytippers are blocking access to the shop and a nearby cake shop.

Ms Smith, 69, of York Road, Rayleigh, said: “It definitely looks like house clearance or garage clearance.

“It is always all sorts of stuff like books and records, old clothes and even a Calor gas cylinder.

“Each time we have to call the council to come and clear it up, it is really inconvenient.

“Some of it is left in a nearby layby but most of it is outside the shop.”

Ms Smith added: “We’ve had cutlery and crockery and all sorts. We have managed to use some of the books left there because they do sell quite well but most of it we haven’t been able to use. We are volunteers and we have to spend time trying to sort through it.

“It affects the cake shop next door as well and makes it hard for people to get in and out.

“It really does make life difficult and it seems to be happening so often. We just want whoever is doing this to stop.”

Rochford District councillor James Newport urged residents to ensure they used fully licensed waste carriers.

He said: “When people hire anyone to take away their unwanted items they have the right to see that person’s licence. I would urge people to ensure they always do this.

“The council has finite resources and can’t go round clearing up after flytippers. Council tax has gone up. We and council tax payers can’t continue to pay for this sort of thing.”

Mr Newport added: “What people will do to get away with this sort of thing beggars belief.

“I would urge them to stop and to dispose of their waste in the proper way as all residents have to do.

“There are plenty of facilities in the area to dispose of household waste without doing this sort of thing.”

Rochford District Council was approached for a comment.