About 400 tonnes of waste dumped on factory site

News imageDurham County Council Mounds of rubbish, which looks like a mixture of shredded plastic and dirt, on the floor. Behind it are hedges and treesDurham County Council
Approximately 400 tonnes of waste has been dumped

About 400 tonnes of industrial waste has been dumped on land at a former factory site.

The Environment Agency (EA) said officers were visiting the old Dewhirst site in Peterlee daily to ensure no more waste was fly-tipped.

The organisation said it was working with the landowner, who has secured the site, to make sure it did not happen again.

An EA spokesperson said: "A thorough investigation is under way, and we will not hesitate to take enforcement action where appropriate."

Durham County Council's neighbourhood protection manager Ian Hoult said the local authority was aware and supporting the Environment Agency.

News imageUGC A large mound of waste has been piled next to a derelict building missing parts of a wall. The waste has been piled in lines on either side of the road up to the main pile.UGC
The rubbish was dumped at the old Dewhirst site in Peterlee

Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.