ANOTHER pile of mattresses has been dumped in the New Forest - in a move that has cost taxpayers more than £800.

The 27 items, which have since been removed by a waste contractor, were fly-tipped at Goatspen car park off Station Road, Burley.

It comes just two months after more than 40 mattresses - many of them identical - were found at three other beauty spots in the district.

The Goatspen incident is thought to have happened last Saturday.

Waste was also dumped at Hawkshill car park near Beaulieu last Sunday and at Brockishill Road, Bartley, just after 10pm on Monday.

Commenting on the Goatspen fly-tipping a Forestry England spokesperson said: "Sadly, this is another example of the lack of respect some people have for the New Forest, its residents and wildlife.

“Forestry England arranged for the mattresses to be removed quickly – a costly and lengthy exercise.

“Working together, Forestry England and the New Forest District Council actively investigate fly-tips in an effort to find the offenders, and fine those responsible whenever possible.”

The earlier incident involving mattresses involved car parks at Matley Wood, near Lyndhurst, Wootton Bridge in Brockenhurst and Burbush, near Burley.

The culprits have been condemned by New Forest councillor David Harrison, who is also member of the National Park Authority.

Writing on social media Cllr Harrison suggested that Hampshire County Council’s waste disposal charges could be contributing to the problem of fly-tipping.

He said it cost £20 a time to leave mattresses at household waste recycling centres, which could deter people from disposing of rubbish legally.

Cllr Harrison added: “I am in no way condoning the criminality but recognising that stopping it happening is almost impossible."

The Bartley fly-tipping took place on land owned by Forestry England.

People with information about the incident can contact Hampshire police on 101, quoting crime reference number 44210039177.

Anyone who knows about other fly-tipping cases can call Forestry England on 0300 067 4601 or email southern.enquiries@forestryengland.uk.