A live cat, a dead donkey and 16,000kg of building waste were among the 350 tonnes of fly-tipping dumped in Epping Forest last year.

Epping Forest Keepers cleared 700 fly-tips in the last year alone and said they were “most shocked” to find a live cat covered in fighting scars dumped in an animal trap beneath a rubbish pile.

A spokesman said: “If it was not for staff investigating the tip for evidence it would have been loaded it onto the incinerator at Edmonton.”

The family pet was taken to an Epping vet who discovered it was microchip and reunited the black feline with his owners.

Keepers also discovered a dead donkey, a goat and several large dogs dumped among rubbish in 2014.

On Thursday, Dwayne Simpson, 27, of Woodford Green, was fined £505 by Chelmsford Magistrates Court after being found guilty of dumping building waste near the entrance of Fairmead Road in High Beech.

Prosecuting under the City of London Corporation prosecution Forest Keeper Tristan Vetta said: “We were lucky enough to have insight from the police who were driving past the road when they spotted two men covered in mud.

“I believe at first they did not think anything of it until they spot a van trapped in mud near the entrance of Fairmead Road.

“They tracked down the men and asked them to move the van, which they did, however they also left a large amount of rubbish.

“In my opinion the fine was not enough, incidents like this cost the forest a lot of money and people need to be taught a lesson.”

The City of London Corporation confirmed that more than £250,000 is spent annually to hire a team of nine people to clear sites in Epping Forest and out of 350 tonnes collected from fly tippers last year only 45 tonnes was recyclable.

A £500 reward is being offered to individuals who provide evidence which leads to the prosecution of fly-tippers.

Witnesses are asked to call keepers on 0208 532 1010.