A Norfolk farmer says he feels "helpless" against fly-tippers after five months of "utter frustration" over commercial waste being illegally dumped on his land.

Andy Wortley, who farms at Methwold, found a pile of building materials and rubbish on the edge of a potato field, and reported it to Breckland Council about five months ago.

But he said although the carrier who dumped the waste had been identified and fined, the rubbish is still on his field - with no likelihood of it being cleared away.

He is angry that the legal responsibility for clearing waste dumped on private land rests with the landowner - a frustration shared by many other Norfolk farmers.

A Breckland spokesperson said the council cannot legally force fly-tippers to remove waste, but it "fully understands the frustration of private landowners" who are left to clear up other people's mess.

Mr Wortley said: "I feel helpless, the situation is getting ridiculous.

"The council seem powerless to make these people doing anything. Even when they know who has done it, they cannot make him clear it up.

"There is nothing to discourage people doing this. I thought the law was stop people doing something wrong, but it is not - they are just laughing at us. 

"I could go and clear it up myself with the JCB - but that's not the point. That's the last thing I want to do, on principle. I keep hoping something will happen, but it has been five months."

A Breckland Council spokesperson said the authority cannot comment on individual enforcement cases - but it takes fly-tipping crimes "very seriously".

"That is why we have significantly increased our fines over the last year and are moving forward with the use of surveillance cameras at key fly-tipping hotspots," they said.

“When someone fly-tips on private land the landowner has the option to pursue resolution via civil action. The options available for the council to share the identity of the offender are limited by legislation, but if we can, we will, if deemed appropriate.

“Councils can only enforce the payment of a fine. We can occasionally recommend that the fly-tipper pay a reduced fine and clear the site, or that they contribute towards the costs of clearing the site, however neither of these options are legally enforceable.

“This often leaves the private landowner in the default position of being liable for clearing waste that has been illegally dumped on their land. 

"We appreciate that this is often not the outcome that private landowners hope for, however we cannot act beyond the legislation that governs our enforcement activity."