Work has begun to clear up a “disgraceful” mountain of illegal waste at a site near the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire, officials have said.

The 150-metre long trail of rubbish in a field alongside the A34 in Kidlington prompted widespread outrage, a criminal investigation and was declared a critical incident by the Environment Agency last November.

Now 15 to 30 lorry loads of rubbish will be removed each day in a £7.3 million operation expected to last around six months.