Residents have voiced their outrage after rubbish was dumped in a Romsey stream.

Ian Hammond, from Middlebridge Street, hit out over the eyesore in the Holbrook Stream after spotting a toilet seat thrown in the water.

Other items found as part of the flytipping include cans and crisp packets.

He said: "It has taken just ten days to get back to being a rubbish dump following the Romsey Stream clean and this just shows how pathetically mindless and lazy some people are.

"Everyday I collect rubbish along the street and by the stream at the bus station and it is generally sweet and cigarette wrappers or lunch paraphernalia and tins."

He added: "If society thinks this is acceptable, then looking after Romsey will always be an uphill struggle for those prepared to do it; I really don't know what the solution is, as fines seem to create hostility and school children who are taught environmental issues don't care."

Cllr Nick Adams-King, who represents Blackwater on the borough council, said: "It is a constant battle and I think it is absolutely disgusting that people cannot be bothered to dispose of their rubbish appropriately if it is something that could have gone in their black bin.

"If the council are informed and if there is enough evidence we will prosecute it."

He added: "The vast majority of rubbish that is dumped is stuff that would be taken to the dump so people are lazy.

"It is just mindless behaviour that people should not have to put up with."

Cllr Mark Cooper, who represents Romsey Tadburn on the borough council, said: "The streams that run through Romsey are an amazing asset to the town and to its ambience. It would be a terrible shame if any residents or visitors are polluting it, as normally that river is in very good condition."

Cllr Janet Burnage, who represents Romsey Cupernham on the borough council, said: "It is a case of someone flytipping in the river and the main thing is it is reported.

"It is a shame that people do not go up to the dump as it is open to the public and they can get up there easily.

"People also have to clear it up and it is wrong."

She added: "We do not want to see people flytipping, but the more flytipping is reported the more people are fined; we would hope that by constantly reporting it people will realise they will get fined and it will stop them from doing it."

The rubbish was spotted on October 23.

A spokesperson from the Environmental Agency said: "The local authority has the power to investigate the fly-tipping.

"We may investigate fly-tipping if it is large scale, involves hazardous waste or involves organised crime.

“We work in partnership with local authorities, police and others to share information and intelligence on fly-tipping; to investigate the impact on the environment and to take action against those responsible.

“Members of the public can report any environmental issues to our free 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 for us to investigate.”