A DOG walker has condemned heartless fly-tippers for turning Inverclyde's countryside into an eyesore.

The Greenock woman, who runs Pawzbook, was appalled to find a bath, fridge and door among other rubbish dumped in the forest clearance near to Gryffe Reservoir.

The woman, who has asked not to be named, sent these images to the Tele in a bid to shame the culprits - as well as highlighting the risk the illegal dumping poses to the public and animals.

She said: "I think it's shocking. I was out walking the dogs and I saw nails sticking out and broken glass.

"There's wildlife around there and it's a lovely spot.

"I hadn't been up there for a while and I was shocked at the mess.

"It looks like someone has cleared the stuff from a house. There was a bath, old door and and fridges.

"It looks as if someone had then tried to set the rubbish on fire."

She said she discovered the debris close to Dowries Farm.

Euan Caskie, owner of Caskie Ltd, whose family runs the farm, said: "It's terrible. I live in Kilmacolm and there are a number of points along that road where items are being dumped.

"There always seems to be fly-tipping up here. We have picked up the rubbish ourselves on occasion and disposed of it.

"This instance is between High Kilmacolm Road and Old Largs Road, one of our access roads goes past it. It's a disgrace."

It is not known who owns the land, which doesn't belong to either the Forestry Commission or Woodland Trust.

A spokesman from the Woodland Trust says dumping of this nature has become a problem all over the country.

He said: "Fly-tipping is a major problem for every wood near to where people live.

"People dump garden rubbish and are under the impression that it's natural and will dissolve into the soil, but it actually changes the ecology of the wood.

"We get everything from grass clippings to old washing machines.

"Woodland spaces offer such a lot to people's wellbeing. They should never be used as easy places to dump rubbish."