BAFFLED villagers have turned detective to try to nail a mystery manure dumper.

The culprit has tipped a dozen piles of poo up to 50ft long and 6ft high.

Great stinking mounds have been left near a 13th century church and village green — and blocked roads in Bishopton, Co. Durham.

Locals have set up a committee to hunt the phantom, who only strikes at night.

Paul Frost, 68, said: “These aren’t just small piles, they’re mountains of manure.

“It’s totally out of hand.

“At first we thought it was a farmer leaving it in one spot before moving it to a field.

“But the heap grew and more and more steaming piles started appearing in different locations. God knows where it comes from.”

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Richie Wall, chef at the village’s Blue Bell Inn, said: “Everyone’s talking about it. It’s affecting every road into the village. It’s clearly someone with a big trailer as there’s an awful lot of it.”

Councillor Brian Jones called in Darlington Borough Council to clean up the latest mess. He urged locals to call the authority or cops if they see anything suspicious.

He added: “We’ll have to catch the guilty party in the act — it’s the only way we’ll get to the bottom of this.”