Fly-tipping is putting children’s lives in danger.

That’s the view of Romsey police sergeant Alyson West. Her concerns follow the dumping of household waste and electrical goods in the Test Valley.

A large pile of wooden planks were thrown out of a vehicle and left on the verge at Bakers Drove in Rownhams on Saturday and an old fridge-freezer was dumped in a country lane at East Wellow the day before.

Sergeant West said: “Fly-tipping is a problem in the area and it happens sporadically. We are concerned about white goods that are being dumped particularly fridges and freezers. A child playing could climb inside and get shut in and not get out.”

The police sergeant said officers received a report last Friday that Whinwhistle Road at Wellow was partially blocked by fly-tipping and tractors and other large vehicles couldn’t get through. During the last few months rubbish has been dumped at the roadside at Chilworth, Lee, West Wellow and Mottisfont.

There are plenty of ways to dispose of unwanted electrical items and other household rubbish said Sergeant West. These include Hampshire’s Household Waste Recycling Centre at Timsbury or calling the borough council to take unwanted items away. Anyone who spots people fly-tipping is asked to call the police on 101 or if an incident is in progress phone 999.