“Thousands of tonnes” of soil, bricks and concrete have mysteriously dumped and buried on an area of the Chiltern’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty this month, according to outraged residents.

The material has appeared on a field off Mudds Bank, Stokenchurch, a beauty spot which is known to be popular with walkers.

Residents, who say they don’t know where the debris is coming from, have called on the council to serve a Stop Notice but the authority has claimed that this is not possible.

A resident, who wishes not to be named for fear of retribution, said: “The importation of waste started at the beginning of May.

“Thousands of tonnes of waste material have been imported and dumped on the land.

“We have no idea where the waste has come from, whether or not it is contaminated and who is behind these nefarious activities.”

Another Stokenchurch resident, who also did not want to be named, said: “This material is not being used for agricultural function and it has now completely polluted the soil.

“Tonnes of concrete blocks, house bricks, metal rods and general rubble has been dumped into the ground.

“I feel so sad that this destruction is happening and nothing is being done to stop it. Wycombe District Council must help save what is left. Soon the beautiful Chiltern Hills will be no longer.”

Mrs Gemma Davies, Planning Enforcement Team Leader at Wycombe District Council, confirmed that she will be continually monitoring the situation and will visit the site on a bi-weekly basis.

In an email to residents, she said: “The works that have been undertaken do not warrant the serving of a Stop Notice.

“A Stop Notice can only served where the activities being carried out are in breach of planning control and have a serious effect on the area.

“The works do not have a serious effect on the area and has not caused irreversible harm, and therefore a Stop Notice is not appropriate in this instance.”

In a statement, WDC said: “We have been carefully monitoring this activity and we are clarifying what the site operator’s intentions are for the site.

“Depending what that intent is, the operator may need to get formal planning permission from us.

“Our planning enforcement team are in direct contact with the people who have raised concerns about this site and we’ll continue to keep them informed.”