A right stink has been caused at a Ryedale waste depot after an unscrupulous trader illegally dumped a bag of fish waste.

The dumping, at the public amenity on Showfield Lane Industrial Estate, Malton, has meant that four of the skips at the site have been temporarily put out of use. The site attendant said she was forced to take the measure out of concern for public safety.

The attendant, who did not want to be named, said: "I saw the van pull up and dump the bag, and there is nothing unusual there. But they left quite quickly so I checked what was in it, and I was very nearly physically sick."

The bag, she said, was full to the brim of rotting fish insides.

She said: "I just couldn't believe it. What was inside was absolutely disgusting, and the fact that they dumped it made me extremely angry - there are signs here that say 'no trade waste'.

"It took me all day to get over the sickness as well. You know how strong a smell fresh fish has, well imagine what this was like after it had been rotting away for however long. It has put me off fish and chips for life, put it that way," the attendant added.

The site is owned by North Yorkshire County Council, and Waste Management Officer Tony Norris said the firm responsible has been identified and will be contacted.

He said: "In certain cases there is the potential for a £20,000 fine and six months in prison, but obviously that is the maximum penalty and would not apply here.

"In this particular instance, we will send the company a bill for the cost of the disposal and issue them with a warning that if they do it again they will get the book thrown at them."

The Environment Agency (EA) will also be informed, who can themselves decide whether legal action should be taken, Mr Norris said.

An EA spokesperson said: "Civic amenities such as these are licensed for the disposal of household waste only. Therefore if businesses deposit waste there then that is classed as fly tipping which carries the possibility of a prosecution from the Environment Agency.

"As soon as we have all the relevant details then we will make a full investigation."

malton@ycp.co.uk