RUBBISH illegally dumped on Dartmoor ? including a television, a heater and kitchen units and cupboards ? was removed by moor rangers this Tuesday, a week after it was first discovered by a member of the public.

A team of Dartmoor National Park rangers cleared the rubbish which had been dumped off a road near to Moortown. Head ranger Rob Steemson issued a warning about the problem of fly-tipping on the moor, which can have potentially fatal consequences for livestock.

The latest incident comes just weeks after the Times published a warning about the danger to ponies of garden waste being dumped on the open moor.

It is an offence under the Environment Protection Act to dump any waste on the moor, and electrical equipment and domestic appliances were particularly hazardous to livestock.

Mr Steemson said: ?It is illegal to dump anything on the moor, people should take their waste and dump it at an appropriate tipping facility. They should not leave it in a beautiful landscape where it is a danger to grazing animals.?

Mr Steemson said rubbish-tipping was an ?increasing problem? on Dartmoor, but this was one of the most serious incidents he had seen, with a two-and-a-half tonne trailer being filled with rubbish dumped at the site.

He said authorities were taking a tough line on the problem; fines for fly-tipping ranged, depending on the extent of the offence, to more than £1,000.

DNPA rangers removed the rubbish on Tuesday morning, and will dispose of it at a tip in Plymouth. Mr Steemson said the Environment Agency were looking for evidence of ownership, and if they did find out who had dumped the rubbish, they may decide to prosecute to send a message about the seriousness with which the problem was treated.

Although technically it is the responsibility of the district council to dispose of fly-tipped rubbish, DNPA works closely with West Devon Borough Council where they can help, and said in this case the potential for danger to livestock was such that it was decided prompt action to remove the rubbish was necessary.

The junk pile near Moortown was first discovered on Tuesday (November 26), by Tavistock man Dan Budge, who regularly walks his dogs on the moor. He contacted West Devon Borough Council about its removal.

However, Mr Budge said after the rubbish had not been cleared by the following Monday, he contacted both the borough council and the DNPA to try again to get the rubbish removed.

?It makes it dangerous to animals, a lot of people walk their dogs up on the moor,? said Mr Budge. He said last weekend?s winds had begun blowing the rubbish around, putting grazing ponies and sheep in greater danger.

Mr Steemson said if anyone did come across rubbish dumped on the moor, they should contact West Devon Borough Council or the Dartmoor National Park Authority.