A MOUNTAINOUS pile of 800 tyres dumped in a Forest stream could be an unintended consequence of the government's popular car scrappage scheme it is claimed.

As Forestry Commission workers winched out and trucked the tyres away from the bed of a remote stream near Staunton, Environment Agency experts pointed out the tell-tale signs which could point to scrappage.

"A lot of the tyres have been cut, and the tread on many of them is still good, which does seem to suggest they're from a car scrappage scheme," said agency officer, Ian Skuse.

"They could have come from a garage or a tyre fitter, but a car scrappage scheme does look quite likely."

Under scrappage, cars can be traded in for cash deals off new cars. The idea was partly to boost sales for crisis ridden car makers, but also to encourage recycling and improve emissions by putting newer and more efficient cars on the road.

End of Life Vehicles (ELV) go to authorised treatment sites where tyres are cut to remove metal. Other hazardous materials, including batters are also recovered and recycled, explained Mr Skuse. But the nearest official treatment sites for tyres aren't easy to reach from the Forest and it would only take an unscrupulous scrappage dealer to dump the tyres and pocket any fees.

The dumping at Bunjumps on a closed road between Upper Redbrook and Staunton is the third to hit the Forest in as many weeks. More than 60 tyres were dumped near Edgehill, and yet more rolled into a steam near Piano Corner, Brierley.

The Environment Agency is campaigning to raise awareness of this sort of 'waste crime', which can carry fines of up to £50,000 and 12 months in prison.

"The message is that anybody who collects tyres should be a registered Environment Agency waste carrier", said Mr Skuse.

"Anyone sending their car for scrap or scrappage should make sure they're dealing with a registered carrier and that they're given a proper waste

transfer note."

Dumping the tyres at Staunton would also have been a big operation, requiring several lorryloads driving down and turning in the woods.

"Hopefully someone will have witnessed this," said Mr Skuse, urging anyone who saw anything unusual to ring the agency's 24-hour hotline on 0800 807060.