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Waste criminals have deposited a huge quantity of garbage in a open space in Oxfordshire.

The "ecological disaster developing in public view" is around 150m (490ft) long and 6m (20ft) tall.

The massive heap has been discovered in a plot of land alongside the River Cherwell in the vicinity of Kidlington.

A local MP brought up the problem in parliament, stating it was "threatening an environmental disaster".

An environmental charity said the unlawful garbage pile was established about a recently by an criminal network.

"This represents an ecological disaster taking place in public view.

"Each day that passes raises the risk of poisonous drainage getting into the river system, poisoning wildlife and threatening the wellbeing of the complete catchment.

"Environmental authorities must take action now, not in the distant future, which is their typical reaction time."

Access ban had been implemented by the regulatory body.

It is difficult to distinguish any individual bits of garbage as it looks to have been broken up with earth combined.

Part of the waste from the peak of the mound has toppled and is now just five metres from the stream.

The River Cherwell is a feeder stream of the River Thames, which signifies it travels through Oxford before joining the Thames.

The official petitioned the authorities for assistance to remove the illegal tip before it caused a inferno or was swept into the water network.

Informing MPs on recently, he stated: "Illegal operators have deposited a huge quantity of unauthorized polymer rubbish... weighing substantial weight, in my constituency on a floodplain alongside the River Cherwell.

"Water heights are growing and heatmaps indicate that the garbage is also heating up, raising the risk of combustion.

"Environmental authorities reported it has restricted funding for regulation, that the anticipated cost of disposal is greater than the complete twelve-month funding of the regional government."

Environment minister commented the government had inherited a underperforming disposal business that had resulted in an "growing issue of unlawful fly-tipping".

She informed parliament members the authority had served a restriction order to halt additional entry to the location.

In a statement, the authority said it was examining the matter and appealed for details.

It commented: "We acknowledge the community's frustration about incidents like this, which is why we respond against those accountable for waste crime."

A newly released study discovered initiatives to address major illegal dumping have been "critically under-prioritised" even though the situation developing into bigger and more advanced.

A parliamentary committee proposed an independent "thorough" examination into how "endemic" waste crime is tackled.