When a load of building materials were dumped in a lane, residents were quick to offer trailers and help to shift it, but their charitable efforts were scuppered by Devon County Council.

Peter Moore, Forest and Beach at Beeson, noticed a load of slate and wood had been dumped at the top of Frittiscombe Lane, Stokenham, and took to social media, worried someone had paid for some work to be done, only for the waste to be dumped in the countryside.

Peter posted a photo of the waste, saying: “Anyone paid for a slate roof to be taken down and away in Stokenham, Chillington, Torcross, Prawle area? If so it is at the top of Frittiscombe Lane, Stokenham and not at tip, please share! Oh and cans of coke, takeaway boxes included!”

Over the next 21 hours, the post was shared more than 660 times and more than 150 people reacted to it.

Within an hour, Peter Trembath offered to clean it up. He said: “I am prepared to help clear it up if others are happy to help? Before people think there is a free for all in our beautiful countryside. I have a trailer I would be happy to load up. We would just need to get DCC to agree to take it at the recycling centre.”

Among many “disgusted” comments, others also offered assistance, Chris Turns said: “I’m happy to help also have a 12x6 tipper too”, Gill Sterry: “We can offer some labour to help load up - don’t want this area to become like some of the lanes near Plymouth”, Em Wotton: “I can help clear it up too”.

We contacted Devon County Council to ask whether if Peter and a couple of residents took their own time and vehicles to clear the waste from the lane, would they wave a charge at the Torr Quarry dump outside Kingsbridge? They would not.

A Devon County Council representative said: “It’s a real shame that someone has thought it reasonable to dump such a huge quantity of material rather than dispose of it responsibly.

“While it’s commendable that people are willing to take it upon themselves to clear it up because it is dumped on private land and not on a public highway it is the responsibility of the landowner to arrange and pay for its disposal.

“Incidents like this should always be reported to South Hams District Council who can investigate and try to locate the culprit.”

Peter Moore said: “It seems really unjust that the landowner is liable to clear this. Positivity could come out of this story, local people are outraged this has happened which will hopefully lead to peer pressure on people looking to flytrip or least least let them know people are keeping an eye out for this sort of antisocial behaviour.

“The many offers of help to clear this is very heartening and shows how deeply local people care about the South Hams Countryside. I really hope it does not end up in a quagmire of legalities about who should clean it up.”