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Fly-tippers have discarded a huge quantity of waste in a rural area in Oxfordshire.

The "ecological disaster developing in plain sight" is around 150m (490ft) long and 6m (20ft) tall.

The massive mound has been discovered in a field next to the River Cherwell close to Kidlington.

Elected official highlighted the problem in parliament, stating it was "risking an environmental emergency".

Conservation group said the unlawful garbage pile was formed about a month ago by an organised crime group.

"This represents an environmental crisis developing in public view.

"Each day that elapses raises the threat of hazardous drainage entering the aquatic network, contaminating animals and putting at risk the health of the whole river basin.

"Environmental authorities must respond promptly, not in the distant future, which is their typical reaction time."

A restriction order had been established by the Environment Agency.

It is challenging to recognize any individual bits of rubbish as it seems to have been broken up with earth mixed in.

Part of the rubbish from the top of the heap has fallen and is now just five metres from the river.

The River Cherwell is a tributary of the River Thames, which means it runs through Oxford before meeting the Thames.

The representative requested the administration for support to remove the unauthorized dump before it triggered a fire or was swept into the river system.

Informing parliament members on recently, he declared: "Illegal operators have discarded a huge quantity of unlawful synthetic materials... weighing many tons, in my constituency on a water-adjacent land alongside the River Cherwell.

"Stream volumes are increasing and temperature readings show that the rubbish is also heating up, elevating the danger of fire.

"Regulatory body reported it has restricted funding for regulation, that the anticipated price of clearance is larger than the entire annual funding of the local district council."

Environment minister stated the government had assumed responsibility for a struggling disposal business that had caused an "growing issue of unlawful dumping".

She told parliament members the agency had implemented a prohibition notice to prevent additional admission to the location.

In a statement, the authority stated it was looking into the incident and asked for details.

It commented: "We acknowledge the public's concern about situations like this, which is why we respond against those responsible for environmental offenses."

A newly released investigation found efforts to combat serious illegal dumping have been "severely neglected" notwithstanding the situation developing into more extensive and more sophisticated.

The Environment and Climate Change Committee recommended an independent "comprehensive" inquiry into how "endemic" illegal dumping is dealt with.