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Illegal dumpers have discarded a mountain of waste in a field in Oxfordshire.

The "environmental crisis developing in public view" is around 150m (490ft) extending and 6m (20ft) tall.

The huge heap has been discovered in a plot of land next to the River Cherwell close to Kidlington.

A local MP brought up the issue in parliament, saying it was "risking an environmental disaster".

An environmental charity said the unlawful garbage pile was created approximately a few weeks back by an organised crime group.

"This constitutes an environmental crisis developing in full view.

"Every day that goes by raises the risk of poisonous seepage reaching the river system, contaminating fauna and putting at risk the health of the whole catchment.

"The Environment Agency must respond now, not in extended periods, which is their usual reaction time."

A restriction order had been implemented by the regulatory body.

It is difficult to recognize any individual pieces of rubbish as it appears to have been shredded with soil blended.

Part of the waste from the peak of the mound has fallen and is now just five feet from the waterway.

The River Cherwell is a tributary of the River Thames, which means it flows through Oxford before meeting the Thames.

The MP requested the government for help to clear the illegal site before it triggered a blaze or was carried into the aquatic system.

Informing elected representatives on recently, he stated: "Lawbreakers have discarded a huge quantity of illegal plastic waste... totaling many tons, in my electoral area on a riverside area alongside the River Cherwell.

"River levels are increasing and thermal imaging show that the rubbish is also increasing in temperature, raising the threat of blaze.

"The Environment Agency stated it has restricted funding for regulation, that the projected price of removal is larger than the entire yearly allocation of the local district council."

Environment minister stated the administration had inherited a struggling waste industry that had created an "widespread problem of illegal fly-tipping".

She told MPs the authority had served a access ban to stop further admission to the site.

In a statement, the agency confirmed it was examining the incident and asked for evidence.

It commented: "We acknowledge the citizens' anger about situations like this, which is why we respond against those accountable for illegal dumping."

A recently published investigation determined efforts to combat major waste crime have been "severely overlooked" even though the problem growing bigger and more sophisticated.

Government advisors proposed an separate "comprehensive" inquiry into how "endemic" environmental offenses is tackled.