A WEST Devon estate this week hit out at the spiralling incidents of fly-tipping which are blighting areas of Dartmoor.

Maristow Estates manager Joe Hess said Roborough Down was constantly being targeted by people using the commons as a tip.

Mr Hess said: ?It?s a situation that?s getting worse unfortunately, it?s an absolute nightmare.

?We work with Dartmoor National Park Authority and the borough council on these problems, but we don?t have the resources to deal with it on the scale it?s growing.?

Mr Hess said the most recent incident involved three car loads of slates dumped on the Coach Road on Roborough Down.

?Someone obviously reversed their car on the common, dumped the slates, drove off and came back and did it again twice, because they?re in three separate piles,? said Mr Hess.

?We try to keep the place in as good condition as possible, we welcome people on to the land and this is the thanks you get.?

Mr Hess said on another recent occasion, trailer loads of ?spoil? were dumped on the old airfield at Yelverton.

?They actually smashed and destroyed one of the signs saying ?No Access? to do it,? said Mr Hess.

He warned that Maristow Estates would not hesitate to report such incidents to the Environment Agency and would strongly support any action taken by the EA to pursue fly-tippers through the courts.

Jonathan Stone, Dartmoor ranger for the Roborough Down area, said fly-tipping was a huge problem which was difficult to combat.

?It?s exceedingly unsightly and also can be hazardous,? said Mr Stone.

He too warned that although Dartmoor National Park Authority does not have the power to prosecute fly-tippers, it would do everything it could to support Environment Agency action in court cases.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said a hard line was always taken with fly-tippers: ?Fly-tipping is downright anti-social and is absolutely unnecessary. There are plenty of licensed recycling centres and most local authorities will pick up large items by prior arrangements free, or a small charge.Where we have adequate evidence to prosecute we will do so every time.?

And he urged residents to use recycling centres for their garden waste.

Anyone who sees incidents of fly-tipping should report it straight away to the Environment Agency?s 24-hour hotline on 0800 80 70 60, reporting car registrations and precise locations where possible.