Asbestos has been found dumped on a beauty spot, angering conservationists who have demanded to know how the site is being managed.

Telscombe Tye has become the focus of an increasingly bitter row between councillors, conservationists and residents after tonnes of contaminated chalk was dumped there. The chalk was supposed to create bunds, or mounds, to act as a barrier to motorcyclists and four-wheel drivers using the green space.

However, it was found to contain building rubble, plastic piping and trade waste. Council officials have ordered the removal of the bunds but campaigners are claiming that could cost as much as £200,000.

Resident Alan Baker, whose home overlooks the Tye, said: "This is the biggest rubbish or fly tipping ever carried out."

The South Downs Conservation Board, now called the South Downs Joint Committee (SDJC), asked for the chalk to be dumped there to create the bunds. East Sussex County Council has ordered that the bunds be removed as they need planning permission.

In the meantime, the SDJC is trying to get retrospective planning permission by agreeing to taking out the 'contamination' from the chalk.

Residents said it was such a mess all of it should be removed, especially as asbestos had been found.

One resident Rick McKellar has paid to have an estimate carried out on clearing the asbestos alone. He says it will now cost in the region of £200,000.

He added: "They are digging themselves into a big hole. There are solutions to this but they are not listening to what people are saying."

People have been taking photos of waste and motorbike tracks and sending them to the council to prompt action.

A spokesman for East Sussex County Council said: "The county council has been in discussion with the SDJC to resolve the issue of removing the bunds."

Telscombe Town Council is aware of the asbestos on the Tye but has yet to confirm the source of the contamination.

Kathleen Verrall, town clerk, said: "It is there but we don't know how it got there."