Household rubbish weighing 30,000 tonnes has been dumped at a protected site near a Leicestershire village, covering an area the size of a football pitch.
The mountain of shredded waste has caused the area around Cave's Inn Pits near Shawell, which has a population of around 200 people, to 'stink' despite there being a tip ten minutes' drive away.
Fly-tippers used soil to try to hide the mountain of rubbish which is polluting the beauty spot and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) which lies behind a service station on the A5.
The dump was only found after passers-by reported a bad smell - the Environment Agency and Natural England have now told the public to stay away from the site and are investigating.
Resident Sallyann Bundock, 56, who has lived in the area for 20 years, said: 'It's really sad to see what they have done up there.
'It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and lots of people walk their dogs around the fields nearby - but now it just stinks and can't go up there.
'We started noticing a really pungent smell probably around Easter time.
'It must have taken thousands of trucks to have unloaded all that - yet the landowner doesn't seem to know anything about it.
Tonnes of waste has been dumped near Shawell, Leicestershire, at a protected beauty spot
Satellite pictures from before the dump showed a green open space, which is now being polluted by the shredded waste
Fly-tippers used soil in an attempt to cover the waste, which weighs 30,000 tonnes and covers an area the size of a football pitch
Shawell resident Sallyann Bundock said the area 'just stinks' and it was 'really disappointing' to see the waste dumped
Shawell lies near Rugby in Leicestershire and has a population of around 200 people
'It's a really disappointing to say the least, when the wind is blowing the smell is really bad.
'I don't know how they can even remove that much waste or where it will even be taken to.'
Another villager, who did not wish to be named, added: 'It's disgusting there's an illegal dump so close to our pretty village.
'There's a tip not that far away so there's really no excuse for illegal dumping. It has left a really unpleasant smell too.'
Alongside a criminal investigation, the agency said it is assessing local air and water quality to prevent any further environmental impact.
Ian Jones, area director for the West Midlands at the Environment Agency, said: 'This is a sickening case of large-scale illegal waste dumping, and we share the public's disgust.
'We have launched an investigation with Natural England to find the criminals and ensure they pay the price for their despicable actions.
'We ask the public to stay away from the area, which is on private land, while we investigate. '
The beauty spot is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), meaning it is legally protected for conservation purposes
A criminal investigation is underway following the dump - the Environment Agency and Natural England have urged the public to stay away from the site
Waste could be seen strewn across the beauty spot - the Environment Agency said it would assess the air and water quality in the area
Phil Hukin, principal manager for Leicestershire and Rutland at Natural England said: 'This site contained some of the best remaining areas of neutral marsh in Leicestershire.
'It is heartbreaking to see one of England's precious sites of special scientific interest damaged like this.
'Our officers are working closely with Environment Agency colleagues to investigate this appalling crime.'
The Environment Agency has appealed for anyone with information to call their incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.