THE owner of a popular tourist attraction has spoken out in frustration at an abandoned car left lying in a ditch - for three months.

Drivers have been left puzzled about the crashed car, which was deserted on the edge of the A595 near Millom in the middle of August.

Annie Rose, owner of Cumbria Heavy Horses near Millom, said the situation was a disgrace and is calling for it to be removed.

She said: "It's an eyesore - this is the national park, for goodness' sake.

"I understand that it's on private property so the council doesn't see fit to remove it.

"It's not on the highway, anymore so it's not their concern.

"It's not on our property so we can't just remove it as we would be trespassing - we're just totally fed up."

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On August 11 this year, the Evening Mail reported that a green Vauxhall Corsa had crashed into a tree on the A595, between Chapel Brow and the junction to the A5093.

Cumbria Constabulary have since confirmed that the driver has not been located as the car was only purchased one day prior to the accident under a false name.

Details were then passed on to Copeland Borough Council to remove the car, who confirmed earlier this week that the case was being looked into.

However, Ms Rose is appalled that it has taken three months to remove the vehicle and believes it is giving the area a bad reputation.

She said: "I think it's terrible. Most tourists don't realise that it's been there such a long time but there are people who come riding with us who are on their second or third visits and I don't have an answer for them - it's ridiculous.

"We get people who come from two or three hours away.

"We're the only heavy horse riding centre in the UK that's British Horse Society approved. We've got beautiful beaches and hills so we're really lucky that we have so much to offer them - but that's not much of a welcome to find a crashed car at the bottom of the drive."

Whicham parish councillors are also frustrated by the abandoned vehicle and are looking to take further action.

Council clerk Lesley Cooper said: "The councillors are really annoyed about it.

"I've been asked to contact our community PCSO to see if he can help us.

"It's just the fact it's been there for such a long time and nothing has been done about it.

"One councillor said he was surprised there hadn't been more accidents with the amount of people braking to look at it.

"We're all frustrated and bemused that it could have been left there that long."