A WOMAN has had enough of fly tippers after the rubbish dumped behind her house became engulfed in flames.

Clarissa Phillips, of Graham Street, just off Manchester Road, was shocked to discover that the mattresses, appliances and other household items that have been piling up behind her house for weeks were on Sunday turned into an inferno that burned down her garden fence.

Clarissa, who moved into the property with her partner and three-year-old daughter in March, is furious because she says the council should have acted to clear up the mess as soon as it was reported.

She said: “When we first moved in it was clear of rubbish. Then things started to pile up and we reported it to the council. I reported it three times, as did my neighbours.”

The mother-of-one said that she would often find condom wrappers in her back garden. But she claims that her persistent appeals to the council would always fall on deaf ears.

Then, at around 6.15pm on Sunday, the family’s complaints were vindicated when the dumped rubbish suddenly burst into flames.

Clarissa said: “We were just getting my daughter ready to go out and somebody knocked on the door to tell us to get out of the house immediately as there was a fire.

“People were screaming, it was very frightening – especially with a three-year-old.”

The worried mum said that her daughter had been playing in the back garden just 15 minutes before and she was terrified to think about what could have happened to her.

Urging the council to respond more quickly to fly tipping complaints, Clarissa said: “They really have to sort this out. We have reported it so many times but nothing gets done.

“I’m not bothered about the damage, houses can be replaced. But our safety, and especially that of my daughter, is very important.”

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue confirmed that they received a call at 6.19pm on Sunday and said there is currently “no indication of a suspected cause”.

Swindon Borough Council said that they take all incidents of fly tipping very seriously.

A council spokesman said: “We appreciate the frustration of Ms Phillips, especially in light of what happened to the waste at the rear of her property.

“The waste concerned was deposited on private land and it is the responsibility of the landowner to clear it away. We investigate fly tipping from private land if it is an environmental hazard or if it contains imminently hazardous materials such as chemicals or asbestos, and in this instance that was not the case.

“When we have enough evidence we will prosecute anyone who leaves waste on public land and anyone who finds evidence of fly tipping should contact us on 01793 445501 so we can investigate and track down the perpetrators.”