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Waste criminals have deposited a massive amount of rubbish in a rural area in Oxfordshire.

The "environmental crisis developing in public view" is around 150m (490ft) extending and 6m (20ft) high.

The massive pile has been discovered in a field next to the River Cherwell in the vicinity of Kidlington.

A local MP raised the issue in parliament, declaring it was "posing risk of an ecological catastrophe".

An environmental charity said the illegal waste site was formed about a recently by an illegal operation.

"This represents an environmental crisis developing in plain sight.

"Daily that elapses elevates the threat of poisonous seepage getting into the aquatic network, poisoning wildlife and endangering the wellbeing of the entire watershed.

"Environmental authorities must respond now, not in extended periods, which is their usual response period."

A restriction order had been put in place by the regulatory body.

It is difficult to identify any particular bits of rubbish as it looks to have been pulverized with earth blended.

Part of the waste from the top of the pile has collapsed and is now just five meters from the waterway.

The River Cherwell is a feeder stream of the River Thames, which indicates it flows through Oxford before meeting the Thames.

The representative requested the administration for assistance to remove the illegal tip before it resulted in a blaze or was swept into the aquatic system.

Addressing parliament members on Thursday, he declared: "Lawbreakers have dumped a huge quantity of unlawful plastic waste... amounting to many tons, in my constituency on a floodplain next to the River Cherwell.

"Stream volumes are rising and temperature readings show that the waste is also increasing in temperature, increasing the threat of fire.

"The Environment Agency reported it has limited funding for regulation, that the estimated price of disposal is greater than the whole yearly allocation of the municipal authority."

Government official commented the government had taken over a underperforming recycling sector that had created an "widespread problem of illegal dumping".

She informed parliament members the agency had issued a prohibition notice to stop more entry to the site.

In a announcement, the agency confirmed it was examining the matter and requested for evidence.

It commented: "We share the community's anger about incidents like this, which is why we respond against those responsible for environmental offenses."

A recent report found efforts to combat serious illegal dumping have been "severely overlooked" notwithstanding the problem developing into larger and more advanced.

A parliamentary committee proposed an separate "root and branch" inquiry into how "endemic" waste crime is addressed.