Fly-tipped items left on protected and conserved land have now been removed and the Isle of Wight Council is seeking information to prosecute those responsible.

The local authority labelled the fly-tipping, off Brading Downs Road, "an absolute disgrace and an unnecessary burden on taxpayers".

As previously reported, six large appliances including a fridge and a bath tub were dumped on land which sits within the Isle of Wight National Landscape, formerly called an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB).

Now, two days after the County Press reported on the fly-tipping, the council has confirmed it has cleared the items.

Read more: Isle of Wight fly tipper dumps fridges in National Landscape area

They were taken away this morning (Thursday), a spokesperson said.

Natasha Dix, the council’s service director for waste, environment, and planning, said: "There is absolutely no excuse for fly-tipping and littering. Both amount to environmental vandalism.

"It blights neighbourhoods and the countryside, is a threat to local wildlife and livestock, is a source of pollution and a danger to public health.

"The latest incident on land off Brading Downs, where at least six large appliances have been dumped, is an absolute disgrace and an unnecessary burden on taxpayers as we look to clear up the site.

Isle of Wight County Press: Fly tipping on land off Brading Downs Road.

"If you recognise any of these appliances and paid a private waste carrier to collect them, please contact the council to report this with any evidence and support the investigation and prosecution of the responsible party. Please email ehadmin@iow.gov.uk".

The authority said fly-tipping can be classed as anything from one bag of household rubbish to several van loads of construction material.

If it is dumped on land that doesn’t have a licence to accept waste, it is fly-tipping and it is illegal and anyone caught doing so could face a £200 fine or have the case taken to court.

Ms Dix added: "We know the Island has one of the lowest rates of fly-tipping in the South East but we need the public's help to keep it that way.

"One important way to do this is to make sure, when using a waste company to remove waste from your property, that they are a registered and licensed waste carrier. 

"Residents can check whether a company has a waste carriers licence on the Environment Agency website."