SWIFT action has been taken to remove a pile of fly-tipped waste in a car park in Stourbridge, which was found to have contained asbestos.

Rubbish, including cardboard boxes, bin bags, discarded shopping trolleys and items that were later identified to be containing asbestos, were left in the corner of the B&M store car park off the ring road.

Residents first raised concerns last week (August 25), with the town's MP, Stourbridge Business Improvement District (BID), local businesses and stakeholders coming together to get the waste removed.

Stourbridge MP, Cat Eccles, said following discussions with Ben Thompson, manager of the newly created Stourbridge BID, B&M was contacted and agreed to take responsibility for the clearance of the rubbish.

The waste was removed yesterday (September 2) (Image: Cat Eccles MP) Following the incident, the MP said B&M also confirmed it is in discussions with its landlord about installing gates to the car park to close it off outside trading hours, in order to prevent repeat offending.

Specialist contractors were required to remove asbestos, with the rubbish being partially cleared on Friday (August 29), before being fully cleared yesterday (September 2).

Cat Eccles, MP for Stourbridge, said: "Residents and local businesses rightly raised their concerns with me about the fly-tipping on the B&M car park in Stourbridge, and I'm pleased we were able to get the waste cleared so quickly.

"The presence of asbestos meant specialist contractors were needed, but the site is now looking much better.

"I welcomed B&M's confirmation that they were talking with the landlord of the site about longer-term measures such as installing gates to stop this happening again.

"It's also fantastic to see the new manager of the Stourbridge Business Improvement District, Ben, already making such a positive impact in the town by working with local stakeholders.

"I look forward to continuing to support the BID in improving Stourbridge for everyone."