TONNES of building waste contaminated with deadly asbestos has been dumped at a notorious fly-tipping spot.

The waste, which appears to have come from a demolition project, was found all over remote King's Highway in Huncoat.

The site has been cordoned off by environmental health officers so the polluted material can be removed safely.

Resident Stephen Green said waste was repeatedly being dumped in the area, making residents' lives a misery.

He said: "This is not the first time something like this has happened but it is certainly one of the worst.

"It is hard to believe that someone would be so irresponsible to do this.

"The rubble is full of asbestos and the dust is deadly."

Mr Green, 47, is a licensed asbestos remover. He runs his own company SAR Ltd and recently completed work removing asbestos at the Thompson Centre in Burnley as it is being demolished.

He added: "You can see that there are asbestos insulating boards among the waste, it is really hazardous stuff.

"It makes me very angry to see this happening because, as a responsible business-man, I need to make sure that all of the asbestos I remove in my job is disposed of carefully and correctly.

"This waste has just been dumped with no care for anyone."

Kings Highway is a popular bridleway and walkers' route. Investigations into the flytipping are now expected to be carried out by the Environment Agency and Hyndburn Council, which has pledged to clampdown on fly-tipping.

Campaigners have called for Lancashire County Council to install a locked gate at the entrance to King's Highway to stop fly-tippers.

The road provides vehicle access to just two farms and a quarry.

Coun Malcolm Pritchard has been lobbying for access to be closed.

He said: "It is frustrating that the issue still hasn't been solved and a nightmare for the people who live here and have to put up with it.

"We have asked repeatedly for something to be done for the last two years and we are determined to be persistent."

In October last year thousands of litres of chemicals were dumped at King's Highway.

Hyndburn has been blighted with problems of litter and dumping rubbish and last year it was named as having the dirtiest streets in East Lancashire.