MORE detail has now emerged about the swathes of rubbish, debris and containers highlighted in a Thurrock Nub News report from a wooded enclave between the A13 and A1089 Dock Approach Road.

In a video report from the site after being tipped off by a reader on Tuesday evening, Thurrock Nub News highlighted an area that had clearly been managed and set up for some sort of activity.

Yesterday Thurrock Council described the area as fly-tip and said Highways England would be clearing the site.

A statement released by the council yesterday said: "Despite the fly tip being on Highways England land, council officers visited the site today with Essex Police in an attempt to identify the criminals who have dumped the waste. Unfortunately, no evidence was found and the fly-tip has been reported to Highways England for removal.

"The council will always work to identify perpetrators of anti-social behaviour and unacceptable criminality if at all possible in such circumstances."

However, it appears the council information was a little off the mark and in fact the site had been used as a cannabis farm which was discovered by workers when the A13 was shut for overnight work on March 13.

A statement from Highways England to Thurrock Nub News this afternoon says: "As Highways England understand it, the area in question is the remnants of a cannabis farm that was found on 11 March, when we had the road closed for other work.

"We have been liaising with the police to assist us in closing the road during daylight hours, to ensure we are safely able to dispose of the debris. The police have also been in contact with Thurrock Council to explain this.

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"The police have now agreed to close the road for us tomorrow morning (26 March) at 10:30am, where we will undertake the full clearance of the site.

"The information put out by Thurrock Council that the clearance was taking place today was incorrect information."