GRAFFITI bearing tongue-in-cheek messages has appeared on fly-tipped household items dumped in Barnsley’s countryside spray-painted by a mystery vigilante.

Mattresses have been daubed with slogans such as ‘nothing mattress anymore’ and ‘duvet really care?’ while a fridge-freezer, discarded in a ditch, appeared with ‘so uncool’ on its front.

Although the culprit remains unknown, anti-tipping campaigner Kevin Osborne, of Little Houghton Parish Council, said the town is in the midst of an ‘epidemic’.

He said: “I can see that someone is taking a light-hearted approach to what is clearly a serious issue across the borough.

“Barnsley is currently plagued by a fly-tipping epidemic and anything that increases public awareness of the issue is to be commended.

“I’d like to see manufacturers, retailers, housing associations and social housing providers encouraging purchasers of new mattresses to do the right thing and dispose of their old mattress responsibly or perhaps offer disposal as part of the purchase price.”

A council spokesperson said: ‘Through our #EverybodyThink campaign we continue to remind residents to think carefully about how and where they get rid of unwanted items and rubbish.

“We’d like to encourage people to keep supporting our efforts by reporting fly-tipping and sharing our social media messages, together we can make a difference and change behaviour.

“Fly-tipping can be reported online at barnsley.gov.uk/flytipping.