COUNCIL bosses have pledged to crack down on fly-tippers who are ruining a country lane.

The problem is so bad that, at times, residents living in Patches Lane, near Coatham Mundeville, have been unable to get into their houses.

The lane is being targeted by people who have either been turned away from the Whessoe Road tip for trying to dispose of trade waste or who have got there after it has closed.

Residents have even reported human waste being dumped at the site.

On other occasions, large quantities of wire have been set on fire to burn off the rubber and access the copper.

Darlington Borough Council has said it is planning to increase patrols around the area in a bid to catch the culprits.

Local resident Mike Craddock said: "I've spoken to the council several times about this now.

"They have been out and cleared it up, but give it two weeks and it'll be as bad as ever.

"I came back to my house one night and I couldn't get into my house because there was a ton- and-a-half of tree cuttings outside my gate.

"It was one o'clock in the morning and raining and I had to shift a leylandii trunk in my suit.

"There has been talks of having a gate fitted for residents, but nothing has happened with that.

"I've lived her for about 30 years, but it's got worse over the past five years."

Last night, a council spokeswoman said the authority was aware of the problem and was taking steps to deal with it.

She said: "We have been out and cleared up the mess.

"We are liaising with our enforcement officers and our environmental wardens to see what can be done.

"We want to catch the people who are doing this and we are stepping up patrols.

"We want people to keep ringing in if they seen any rubbish which has been dumped."