Stunned David Barnard was also told a safety harness was needed to clear the rubbish which was in four inches of water.

Mr Barnard, vice-chairman of South Harting Parish Council hit out at Chichester District Council after he and other residents decided to clear up the mess themselves.

He said: 'I spoke to someone from the department dealing with fly-tipping and he said – and I quote – 'We don't have anyone qualified to wear Wellington boots'.

'I know they must have their health and safety regulations, fair enough, but it was only four inches of water.'

Cllr Barnard contacted the council after receiving complaints that the old metal bin had fallen into the stream.

It was pouring out rubbish, including dog faeces, at the end of a footpath where mothers and children walk to school.

Cllr Barnard, 60, a carpets retailer and chairman of the Harting village cricket club, said he had received 12 complaints about the mess.

In the end parish councillors donned their wellies, spent 20 minutes in the stream removing the bin and bagging up its unsavoury contents before loading the bin and bags into a car and taking everything to the tip.

Councillor Pat James, said: 'It was horrid, especially as it had all been in the water for a while. All you needed was wellies, a rake and a pair of rubber gloves.'

The 71-year-old grandmother added: 'It was easily accessible. I could get down there quite easily.'

Only last week the council was under fire for excessive political correctness after telling staff to stop using language such as 'the man on the street' because it was sexist.

In a statement the council said: 'On Tuesday 26 August Chichester District Council received two telephone calls from Mr David Barnard.

'A member of staff inspected the fly tipping incident at 8am the following day and considered that the bin was not causing any immediate hazard and arranged with Mr Barnard that it be collected on the council's next scheduled street cleaning visit, which was Wednesday, September 3.

'In the interim period the bin was removed. The council also agreed to clear the heavily littered grate to aid water flow.'

>> It is the second time in a week that Chichester District Council has found itself in the headlines.

Guidance to staff on how to avoid using offensive language drew criticisms, with phrases such as 'manning the phones', 'manhole cover' and even 'lady' deemed to be sexist or offensive.

The Tory-run authority instead wanted staff to use phrases such as 'staffing' instead of 'manning', or 'the general public' instead of 'the man on the street'