Black bin bags containing glass bottles and old food were discarded on a footpath – a hotspot for dogwalkers – in Riddings Wood, close to Nottingham Road.

Village resident Ann Bridgeford was walking in the wood last week when she made the grim discovery.

She said: "I called the council but because it was in the woods and not a highway they said it would take longer to clear up.

"I went down a couple of days later and it had not been moved and the contents of the bags were scattered all over the wood."

Mrs Bridgeford, who described the scene as 'vile' said she had been informed by a council worker that the culprits could face prosecution because the rubbish contained documents with names and addresses on them.

She said: "There were tins of meat half full and between 20-30 glass bottles.

"You wouldn't believe that people would treat a place like that."

She added that this is not the first time the woods have been targeted by flytippers and she once saw a car pull up and dump three black bin bags.

Riddings borough councillor Paul Smith, said: "It's incredible that someone has come and thrown rubbish all over the place.

"They chucked the bags and they burst open – there was food, bottles and broken glass everywhere and even documents with people's addresses on."

Amber Valley Borough Council representatives cleared the rubbish away and a spokesman for the authority said: "If flytipping offenders are identified, the council will issue fixed penalty notices or prosecute.

"Those found guilty can be fined up to £50,000, receive community punishment orders or face 12 months imprisonment.

"If you see flytipping taking place, please report it on 08456 058 058 and, if possible, note when and where it's taking place, a description of any vehicles involved and their registration numbers, and what sort of rubbish is being dumped."