More than 20 mattresses have been dumped along two country lanes.

Residents in Taylor’s Lane in Higham and Cooling Road in Cliffe woke up to see dozens of mattresses piled on the sides of the roads.

Phil Arthur, from Wainscott, travels through Higham on his way to work and said fly-tipping was common there.

He said: “I hope the mattresses don’t cause an accident as they are dumped just after a blind bend along Taylor’s Lane.

“It’s a very common event around here and sadly nobody has yet managed to work out a way of discouraging it.

“I see something like this every week sadly. The local disposal team are very good however they are often tasked with dozens of jobs at the same time so it takes forever to clear.”

Phil, who believes the mattresses were dumped last night, reported the incident to Gravesham council. A team is en route to clear up the fly-tipping.

A spokesman for the authority said: “Our environmental enforcement team will be on site very shortly to check for any evidence that may lead us to the offenders.

“As soon as they have finished their work, our waste team will be out to clear the site.”

Phil explained that he thinks it is “time the local authorities started to hit the problem head-on”.

He added: “We need to make an ordinance to allow the police and Trading Standards to stop any flatbed vehicles with waste materials and check their insurance, licensing, and driver work details.

“If we don’t stop the idiots trying to make fast money this will continue and get worse.

“This is a beautiful area full of fields and what they’ve done is disgusting…”

“A £10k fine, nine points, and seizure of their vehicle for any breaches will deal with all but the most determined.

“They should also make the person who booked the pick-up incumbent to prove they made the necessary checks to ensure the people they use for waste disposal is legitimate.”

Just 10 minutes down the road another load of mattresses were dumped along Cooling Road in Cliffe.

Dave Sargent was walking his dog at around 9pm yesterday when he saw a large caged tipper dumping its load just off Cooling Road.

He was about 400m away at the time and unable to get a number plate as it was too dark and the driver had their headlights off.

He said: “They look like the same mattresses in Higham as they have the same stripes on.

“I hate it, fly-tipping really winds me up. This is a beautiful area full of fields and what they’ve done is disgusting.

“I’ve lived here for 20 years and I’ve never seen them dump there.

“It’s really annoying especially as the route is used by dog walkers.”

Medway Council has been contacted for comment.