Hunt for gang who dumped trailer on the A1 goes on

The trailer full of waste was abandoned on the side of the A1 at Great Ponton, Lincolnshire

Authorities have vowed to track down those responsible for an abandoned trailer full of rubbish which led to a serious crash on the A1.

The illegally dumped waste was left in a layby at Great Ponton, Lincolnshire, and it led to a nine-hour closure on 5 October when a car crashed into it.

The trailer was removed this week during a pre-arranged road closure.

"The hunt continues for the criminals who dumped it in what was a dangerous act of illegal fly-tipping," South Kesteven District Council said.

Rhys Baker, the council's cabinet member for environment and waste, said: "It is environmental vandalism, and it makes me furious to see taxpayer money spent cleaning up crimes like this.

Work to remove the trailer from the A1 took place over two nights this week

"This was a despicable and disgusting criminal act.

"Ultimately, these gangs are leaving residents to pick up the bill. Every pound spent clearing up this mess is a pound stolen from local services."

The woman motorist in her 60s was injured when her car crashed into the trailer, which led to the closure of the southbound carriageway. Lincolnshire Police said no arrests had been made.

The district council worked with National Highways and Lincolnshire County Council to remove the trailer.

Ayeisha Kirkham, chair of the Lincolnshire Environmental Crime Partnership, said: "This was not waste that would normally have gone to the household recycling centres. This is criminal gangs working on an industrial scale."

She said the perpetrators used a "dilapidated trailer with the top cut off to make it easier to fill".

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