Anger over rotting turkey carcasses and other waste left beside recycling bins at Woodmill Lane

Rotting turkey carcasses and a bottle of urine are among hundreds of items that were left in a car park beside the River Itchen in Southampton.

On at least one occasion a dog was seen scavenging for food amid the squalor.

Locals have criticised the city council for taking too long to remove the mountain of rubbish, saying it started to build up before Christmas.

Toys, rubble and discarded underwear were among the objects dumped in the car park - often under the cover of darkness.

The post-Christmas period is normally a busy time of year for recycling centres but the sea of waste made it difficult for people to reach the bins and deposit items that could be sold for charity.

Some of the bins are clothing banks installed in aid of two good causes supported by the mayor of Southampton, Cllr Stephen Barnes-Andrews.

He is raising funds for the Rose Road Association, which provides vital services for more than 400 children and young people with physical disabilities, learning difficulties and/or autism.

Cllr Stephen Barnes-Andrews is also collecting cash for the Sunday Lunch Project, which serves free meals to homeless people and other disadvantaged members of the community.

Juno Hollyhock, the Rose Road Association's chief executive, said: "It’s very disappointing that a small minority of people have acted so irresponsibly.

"This time of year is particularly good opportunity for people to recycle items which could be put to good use but no-one wants to clamber over rotting food and discarded underwear to make a donation.

"We're very disappointed and only hope the fly-tippers did not understand the impact of their actions."

Woodmill Lane resident Miriam Finn added: "It really is shocking. I worry about children and dogs - there is broken glass among the rubbish."

Another local added: "People come at night when they think no-one is watching. A bottle of urine is among the items which have been left here - it's disgusting."

The rubbish was removed by the council yesterday.

A council spokesman: "It's a great shame that some individuals who were already going to a recycling centre were willing to undertake this action rather than to dispose of unwanted items properly at the Household Waste and Recycling Centre in Millbrook or to use the council’s bulky item collection service."

Anyone with knowledge of fly-tipping incidents should contact the council by going online and visiting southampton.gov.uk/environmental-issues/street-cleaning/fly-tipping.aspx.