A former County Durham pub and hotel has become the target of fly-tippers after the boarded-up exterior has been hit with cabinets, bin bags and even a double bed.

For the last couple of years, The Chilton Country Pub and Hotel in Chilton Moor, near Houghton-Le-Spring, has been sat derelict after a succession of failed attempts to run the once popular venue.

Despite its closure, the pub and hotel has hit headlines over the last 12 months after a devastating fire ripped through the building in a suspected arson attack.

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Since then, wooden boards have been sheltering the windows and doors, while the interior of the building is heavily gutted from the fire.

Following the fire, the venue has also been subject to continuous fly-tipping, which has seen Durham County Council’s wardens investigate who is beyond the dumping of waste at The Chilton Country Pub and Hotel.

In the last few weeks alone, furniture, boxes, cans, bottles, and bin bags have been appearing outside the Chilton Moor facility – leading to the wardens appealing to members of the public for help.

Posting on their social media channel, the county council wardens said: “We are currently investigating waste that has been fly-tipped at The Chilton Country Pub and Hotel in Chilton Moor.

The Northern Echo: The collection of rubbish at the former pub and hotel. Picture: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCILThe collection of rubbish at the former pub and hotel. Picture: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL

“If you recognise the waste or have information of the person responsible, give us a call on the number below - quoting reference 811808.

“If you witness fly-tipping taking place, we ask that you call Durham Police on 101 (or 999 in an emergency) giving as much detail as possible.

“Alternatively, you can report fly-tipping by calling 03000 260000 or via www.durham.gov.uk/doitonline.”

Alongside the post, the agency shared two examples of the fly-tipping that The Chilton Country Pub and Hotel has seen recently, while social media users moved to condemn those that have dumped rubbish.

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