Anger after huge pile of rubbish dumped outside church
"There's a big wooden cross on the building which they must have driven past to tip the rubbish – I don't think people respect the church anymore."
An "enormous" pile of rubbish has been dumped outside a church Staffordshire, almost blocking its entrance.
Vicar Elaine Evans, from St Bertelin's Church in Stafford, said she had been left "heartbroken" when she saw it.
The large pile, which is outside the Holmcroft Road building, has been branded a "health hazard" – with visitors having to journey through a small pathway to gain entry.
The incident took place sometime between 8.30pm on January 21 and 8.30am on January 22.
Mrs Evans said: "It's taller than I am and I'm 5ft 9 and it's at least two large skips worth of rubbish – it stinks as well.
"I thought it would be a few bin bags and didn't expect this at all."
The scene has now been locked down by Staffordshire Police and the Environment Agency, preventing the church from removing the rubbish.
"Because it's a large amount it's classed as a crime scene," she said.
"I've been in touch with the church's insurance because it's on private land which means the council won't remove it.
"We have to remove it at our expense.
"It's heartbreaking, really, because we've had to close the car park for the scout groups.
"I've had to say 'it's not available' because of this enormous pile of rubbish – and there's some shotgun cartridges, too."
The vicar is now calling on people to come forward if they had any information.
She said: "People didn't notice anything – and the only chance is that someone has looked out their window at the time it happened.
"Or if someone has CCTV of a dump truck filled with rubbish – and later when the rubbish is gone."
Anyone with information can call the church on 01785 220363
