COUNCIL bosses have been called on to take immediate action as more household waste is coming to the surface of a former tip on Walney.

Horrified residents and dog-walkers began calling for clean-up action at the former public landfill site at South Walney back in January.

The issue is exacerbated following heavy rainfall but is caused by ongoing erosion of the west side of the south end of the island.

The tip was operated until at least the 1980s by Cumbria County Council.

Last weekend Biggar Village resident Mark McGuckin was walking along the coast when he spotted yet more rubbish on the beach.

"It's a slightly different area from last time so it seems the whole thing is collapsing," he said.

"It's household waste but because it's so old, and before recycling really came in, there's a lot of plastic material which isn't degrading and is washing into the sea."

Staff at South Walney Nature Reserve, sited close to the former tip, have also backed calls for the area to be cleaned.

In response to Mr McGuckin's photograph they said: "Just over a mile from South Walney Nature Reserve, the old tip continues to erode into the sea. We find this totally unacceptable."

In January Cumbria County Council, which is responsible for the former tip, carried out a site visit and admitted work needed to be done with a "long-term solution" needed to tackle the problem.

After the latest pictures were brought to the council's attention a spokesman said this week: "Initial emergency works have been scheduled to take place in March and we will continue to engage with stakeholders going forward with further works as required.

"Shoreline improvement works are expected to continue from March through to the end of May 2018. This will include a number of litter picks along the shoreline.”