The weir leading from Balcombe Lake into the tributory that feeds Ardingly reservoir was the dumping spot chosen by the culprits.

The tipping was first discovered by nearby resident Pete Dutton who farms Woodwards Farm off Mill Lane, Balcombe.

Mr Dutton said: "It's possibly the worst place anyone could have chosen to fly-tip in terms of pollution and trying to retreive it. There are bags of rubbish in the river and even electric goods.

"Why people couldn't take it to the proper tip in Burgess Hill I don't know. It makes you wonder if it is a direct result of the fortnightly rubbish collections."

The rubbish was thrown over the wall of the weir, where a drop of about 20 feet is accessible only via a flight of steep and slippery steps. By today (Wednesday) it had begun to wash down the river.

Last week was the first time Balcombe residents experienced their recycling bins only being emptied by the district council while their household rubbish had to remain in the grey wheelie bins waiting for this week's collections.

Mid Sussex District Council communication manager Martin Burrekoven-Kalve said the council was unaware of any year-on-year increase in fly-tipping since the change in rubbish collections. He reiterated that flytipping was a criminal offence punishable by a fine or imprisonment.