A sofa, an oven and even a fridge have been dumped in a West Cumbrian beauty spot.

The items, including a host of building materials and waste, were discovered at Eskett Quarry, Frizington, over the last week. It's the latest fly-tipping episode in a series to blight the quarry – located only a mile from a designated public tip – in recent months.

The angry member of public who took the shock photos told The Whitehaven News : "We live in such a beautiful part of the country but it is damaged by an act like this.

"The fly-tippers go to such effort to get rid of bulk waste without paying the charges. I'm sick of people blaming the council for charging to take away waste; the same people happily pay to have their new sofas delivered. What's the difference?"

Because the fly-tipping took place on private land, the quarry's management had to pay to have it removed.

Geoff Strong, the quarry's estates manager, said: "Fly-tipping is a problem in that area; it's hard to believe because there is a public amenity so close by.

"Quite who is undertaking it is unclear, but we have had to meet the cost of having it removed."

The member of public who took the pictures added: "Every backroad and layby in Copeland is a dumping ground. It seems to be accepted and tolerated. We can moan about the council, but it's the individuals doing the dumping."

A spokeswoman for Copeland Council said: "We always look into fly-tips in an effort to identify the person responsible, but in this case there was no such evidence.

"We would urge anyone with information about flytipping to either contact the police on 101 or us on 01946 598300.”