A row has erupted between residents and a petrol station over who is responsible for removing fridges and mattresses that were dumped in a lane.

The residents have been told by Motor Fuel Group, which runs the BP garage in Brighton Road, Worthing, that it does not own the right of way which abuts its site and so will not get rid of the “dangerous” debris that has been there for weeks.

But frustrated neighbours in Seamill Park Avenue insist the land does belong to the fuel company.

Mike Whiting, who has lived in the avenue for 38 years, said documents show MFG is the owner of the section of the lane, going north from Brighton Road, where the rubbish has been dumped.

He said ownership was established and agreed in 1941, as shown on Land Registry documents.

The 79-year-old said the agreement established that it is the responsibility of the owners of the land, and all successors in title, to ensure that the section of land is kept unobstructed as it forms part of a right of way to the residents in Seamill Park Avenue.

The waste has been there for weeksThe waste has been there for weeks (Image: The Argus)

The agreement is referenced in HM Land Registry’s official copy of register of title for Brooklands filling station.

Residents, who have been advised that the cost of removing the items would be in the region of £250, are concerned the flytipping will encourage others to dump rubbish in the lane.

There are also safety fears about the waste, which is obstructing the right of way.

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“As soon as people see one flytip they’ll add to it,” said Mr Whiting.

“We’ve got to nip it in the bud.

He said MFG “does not care” and that residents are “fed up”.

“It’s up to them to remove it,” he said. “We’re not going to remove it but it means we can’t use the lane."

Motor Fuel Group declined to comment.

A Worthing Borough Council spokesman said as the land is private the authority is not responsible for removing the waste and that it would be up to whoever does own it to arrange legal removal of the items.

A council environment officer wrote to Mr Whiting saying that a land registry search revealed the land is unregistered and that any clearance would need to be conducted by those that use the lane.

But Mr Whiting maintains the piece of lane where the flytipping is dumped is owned by the fuel group.

The council spokesman said it is trying to establish the validity of claims that the land is owned by the petrol station.