People have told of their ‘shock and frustration’ after finding a fly-tipped sofa near a cemetery in an ‘appalling’ incident.

Eastleigh Borough Council, now wants witnesses to the incident in the hope it can find the offender, who faces a potential £800 fine.

A large sofa-bed was been dumped in the car park at Stoke Park Woods next to Bishopstoke Cemetery – upsetting many members of the community.

One Bishopstoke resident said: “They could have given it away to someone”.

The resident who discovered on the fly-tipping said: "I was shocked and frustrated when I saw the furniture dumped in the parking lot.

“It’s disheartening to see our community treated with such disregard, especially knowing that this kind of behaviour can attract more illicit activities.

“We take pride in our neighbourhood, and it's upsetting to witness this carelessness."

The incident comes as the council looks to crack down on fly-tipping incidents across the region.

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In September the authority removed a number of glass bottle banks at bring bank sites after a rise in fly-tipping incidents at a number of theses locations.

Residents have instead been told to rely on their fortnightly bottle and glass collections rather than taking glass to it to the council’s bring bank sites.

A spokesperson from the council said: “Our officers are currently investigating this latest appalling instance of fly-tipping.

“We believe there may have been witnesses and we would be keen to hear from anyone who can provide information or evidence.

“We work hard to identify and prosecute offenders, who can be hit with an £800 fine.

“Residents can report fly-tipping on our website.”