ANGRY locals have hit out at “appalling” levels of fly-tipping which they claim has been left for years.

Dumped rubbish at an old dual carriageway, which is near the former LG factory in Coedkernew, is attracting “opportunistic” fly-tippers, according to locals.

Jeff James, 70, who lives on Maerdy Farm, said he is “outraged” at the levels of rubbish.

He said: “I have to pass all of this rubbish every single day because I live at the bottom and it isn’t pleasant. Some of it has been here for three years and needs clearing now.

“There’s rats all over because of the clothes, food and other things.”

“It makes me angry because fly-tippers are taking advantage.”

He added: “To get onto the site there’s a gate and there needs to be a padlock to prevent people from dumping things.”

Carl Evans, who walks his dog in the area, said: “I’ve reported the site and said a lock is needed on the gate. Travellers and fly-tippers have caused the mess.

“The site has become a rats’ haven.”

Jean Parfitt, who lives nearby, added: “It makes my blood boil to see the state of the area. It needs cleaning up immediately.”

Newport City Council and the Welsh Government both said they may own parts of the land.

A Welsh Government spokesman added that it could not confirm whether the rubbish is on its land, but added that the government takes fly-tipping “extremely seriously”.

Councillor Ray Truman, deputy leader of Newport council, said he was “appalled by the amount of rubbish and that clearing such sites is “costly”.

He added: “It is a shame some people have no regard for the environment and do not take responsibility for dealing with their waste.”

He also urged people to call Pride in Newport to report fly-tipping.

A spokeswoman for Newport council said it “shares the concerns” of residents.

She said: “The council will investigate residents’ complaints in relation to Church Lane, Marshfield, who say a gate to the area is no longer locked and we will endeavour to secure the site.”