Villagers vexed by sauvignon blanc fly-tipper

It's a vintage mystery - who is dumping dozens of sauvignon blanc bottles in the lanes between two pictureseque villages?

Residents of Hotham and North Cave, in East Yorkshire, say bags full of empty bottles have been turning up on grass verges for months.

One farmer, who asked not to be named, showed the BBC his latest haul and said: "The most I've collected in one day is 48."

East Riding of Yorkshire Council said it was unaware of any particular issue in the area and encouraged residents to report every incident of fly-tipping.

On a local WhatsApp group, a team of residents frequently discuss how many bottles have been collected.

Many have been found on leafy Pitbalk Hill on the way into Hotham.

With its cream-coloured, old stone buildings and blankets of bright yellow daffodils, the village appears to be an unlikely location for fly-tipping, even if the litter in question retails at more than £10 a bottle.

Most of the bottles are Villa Maria, which costs £10.75 in the nearest supermarket and is said to pair well with seafood and tangy goat's cheese.

Villagers, however, have warned about the danger to runners, horse riders and farmers who cut the long grass on the verges for hay.

Simon Robinson, 52, described the discoveries as "bizarre".

"I know there's sort of a fly-tipping epidemic," he said, "but that takes the biscuit, doesn't it?"

East Riding of Yorkshire Council said it was "not aware of a particular issue around this area", having received a report in August 2025, but nothing since.

In a statement, the authority encouraged people to report regular fly-tipping "every time it happens".

"That way we can make an informed decision as to whether targeted enforcement is appropriate."

Households in the East Riding have blue bins for recycling bottles and there are glass recycling bins at Hotham Village Hall and near the church in North Cave.

Meanwhile, locals are considering taking it in turns to keep a lookout in a bid to catch the fly-tipper in the act.

They have even suggested setting up trail cameras.

One resident, who messaged the BBC, said: "If we do find the culprit, no doubt we'll have a drink to celebrate – but it won't be white wine."

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