Bromley Council has seized four vehicles following the discovery of what is believed to be an illegal waste site.

According to the local authority, the vehicles were found in St Mary Cray on green belt land during an investigation carried out by the council and the police to help fight illegal waste disposal.

In a statement yesterday, the council confirmed that a man was arrested following the investigation, which saw the local authority’s Neighbourhood Investigation Officers uncover ‘large mounds of burnt waste concealed in wooded areas’.

The council has said ‘hundreds of tonnes’ of waste could have been illegally discarded based on the evidence.

In accordance with the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, the site has now been marked with intention of closure notices, and the vehicles may be crushed subject to the result of the investigation.

A council spokesperson said: ‘It appears that an illegal industrial scale waste disposal operation has been set-up, with the significant profits this can generate.

‘We are limited by what we can share at this time as our investigation work continues but we will also look at the serious environmental damage that will no doubt have been caused as well.’

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: ‘Environmental crime is a serious concern and working closely with the council to support their work is part of the way that we help tackle this locally as part of the Bromley Safer Partnership.

‘It is a stark reminder as well to us all to carefully check the credentials of anyone we are proposing to use, to dispose of waste, including checking they are a licensed waste carrier, to help ensure that waste is properly disposed of.’