The eyesore next to the River Chelt near the Waitrose store was used as an unofficial dump long before houses were built around it.

Recent building work has brought the mess to public attention.

Cheltenham Borough Council said four tons of rubbish including asbestos and the remains of a vintage car were removed from the site.

The Environment Agency said the property owners were responsible for the clean-up, but the council stepped in as an act of "goodwill"

Rob Bell from the council said: "We think most of this took place before some of the development in the area. Most of the houses surrounding us are fairly new, certainly constructed in the last ten years.

"I think it was probably an unofficial local tip at a time when people weren't as environmentally friendly as they are now."