Gangs from London are using Castle Point to flytip rubbish, an MP claims.

Rebecca Harris raised concerns about rubbish blocking ditches and causing floods.

The Castle Point MP told Parliament she suspected people were travelling into the area specifically to dump sofas, rubble and other waste.

She said: “They have no regard for the fact dumping an old sofa in what looks like a dodgy old ditch is quite likely to cause someone to flood down the line in a couple of days.”

Ray Howard, borough councillor for floods and water management, has called for fly-tippers to be named and shamed by the authorities.

Mrs Harris also called for waterways to be kept clear and more information put out about the problem dumping rubbish in ditches causes when it rains.

She said: “We have lost touch with our understanding of the land and the importance of watercourses, and we need to bring that back.

“I know the Environment Agency has great difficulty in trying to deal with the culprits who fly-tip, but they need to be educated about the damage they could be causing to people.”

In November, Dave Blackwell, chairman of Castle Point Council’s flooding scrutiny committee, claimed a dyke behind Waterside Farm, Canvey, which had become clogged with wrappers, cans and branches, had not been cleaned for a year.

In August, items including an office chair, food wrappers and bin bags of rubbish were dragged out of drains on Canvey.

Mr Howard said: “There’s no doubt people do come where they see an opportunity in a remote location or dyke and the consequences are quite considerable.

“We need to name and shame these people who cause so much disruption.”

A Castle Point Council spokesman said: “We investigate all incidents of fly-tipping and will prosecute flytippers.

“However, unless we can find evidence within the flytipping of where it has come from, it is virtually impossible to identify the fly-tippers.”