A retired water company professional has condemned 'mindless' fly-tippers who dumped a large amount of household waste into the River Roch at Heywood.
Appalled Ian Formby, took pictures of the sodden garbage on Sunday morning (August 1) near Crimble Mill.
The 66-year-old was walking along the banks on his way to bell-ringing duty at St Luke's Church in Heywood when he stumbled across the awful mess.
"I've seen this a few times," said Ian, a former leaks investigation officer for United Utilities. "But this is the worst example yet.
"If they'd have dumped it on the path it would have been easier to clean up, but putting it in the river is one of the worst things they could've done.
"There's so much plastic among the waste, it's diabolical. There's a child's toy kitchen and a bed headboard.
"It will be washed out to sea and will do so much damage to the environment. It's so sad when you consider how much education there is around this kind of thing. It's just mindless."
After images of the rubbish were shared on Facebook by Ian's wife Lynn, other residents shared the couple's outrage over the fly-tipping.
Peter Mulligan wrote: "Bang out of order but the council should not shut tips and if you go to Bury tip in a van, you need hard hat goggles gloves boots high-vis Jacket two forms of Id plus a council tax letter. Most probably easy to rob a bank, that’s the problem."
Alison Nish posted: "Shocking and sad."
Anne Halliwell said: "People have no respect disgusting."
Donna Gouldin wrote: "Dumping is bad enough but why put it in the water?"
Krystian Kowalczuk posted: "Whilst I deplore the actions of these people it is a direct result of making going to the tip such a chore if you have a van load that some people would see this as an alternative.
"The 'car' tip is easy but vans are an absolute nightmare. They make you feel like you are disposing of plutonium rather than an old couch and a knackered fridge freezer.
"Rochdale council should make it easier to dispose of rubbish and Rochdale will benefit as a result."
