Barnet Council has apologised after a man was left to pick up litter from a stretch of road it should have been cleaning up.

Roderick Muir, who lives on Potters Lane, said he had been cleaning a stretch of road he dubbed “Barnet’s dumping ground” for months after a council employee denied it was under the local authority’s ownership.

Mr Muir was informed that the land to the left of Potters Lane after the turn-off from the A1000 belonged to Transport for London (TfL).

But the council has admitted it does in fact own the land and pledged to visit the site immediately to assess the fly-tipping.

Mr Muir said: “There have been black sacks there now for four to five months. I had one black rubbish sack and picked that up in 30 minutes.

“These things are working themselves further and further into the bushes and greenery. It drives me mad.

“The council used to clear the rubbish.

“I contacted my councillor and apparently they told her that the lane on the left as you come up belongs to TfL – it is not the council’s responsibility.

“They (the council) have always cleared it up until now. They have done litter picks when I have pushed them in the past.”

Mr Muir, who is 66, has inflammatory arthritis and has been having chemotherapy for 17 years, said it shouldn’t be his responsibility to clear up the rubbish.

He said: “I just wish the public realised that throwing litter out of their car windows costs them money in council tax.

“I know the council haven’t caused it, but it should fall on them to keep it clear.”

Mr Muir suggested black waste sacks recently dumped in the lane could be due to the problems with bin collections.

He said: “If people are not getting their bins emptied, fly-tipping will increase.”

A Barnet Council spokesperson said: “This particular stretch of land is in fact owned by the council. We apologise for any incorrect information that was passed onto the resident.

“We will be carrying out an immediate site visit to assess the extent of the fly-tipping. We will then be in a position to carry out the necessary works to clear the area concerned.”