WORK to clear a mountain of festering rubbish in Dudley has ground to a halt.

It is estimated that there is up to 2,000 tonnes of junk dumped on the Rowan Oak Waste site in Shaw Road, including children's toys, tyres and furniture.

Despite the Environment Agency taking enforcement action against the operator last year, the process of removing the waste from the site did not begin until last month.

But Dudley North MP Ian Austin said just a few weeks later, only a "tiny amount" has been shifted and work has already stopped.

Mr Austin, who is unhappy with the way things are progressing, has now asked Environment Secretary Michael Gove to step in to speed things along.

He said: "Local businesses and I are fed up with the time it is taking to sort this out.

“It has been dragging on for far too long and I want Michael Gove to get the Environment Agency to get a grip and sort it out much more quickly.

“Local businesses provide jobs for people in Dudley and pay a fortune in business rates and it is completely unacceptable that they should have this huge mountain of rubbish and all the environmental problems it causes on their doorstep.”

Steve Rogers from the Environment Agency told the News: "Waste on the site started to be removed by the landowner in June but has currently stopped. We are working with the landowner to rectify this situation as soon as possible.

"While our investigation into the depositing of the waste at the site is ongoing, we have been working with the permit holders and landowners to secure the safe and legal removal of waste at the site, and will continue to do so until the site is clear.

"We estimate the site contains 2,000 tonnes of waste, which will be taken to landfill - and we are monitoring and tracking the waste to make sure it is being disposed of safely."