A LARGE number of used tyres have been found dumped on the shore of Loch Ness.

According to members of the Ness District Salmon Fishery Board who made the discovery, more than 100 tyres were discarded from a layby above the A82 near Drumnadrochit.

“There’s 100 at least,” said Brian Shaw, director of the fishery board. "I tend to underestimate – there may even be 200.”

Speaking to Sky News, Shaw said that he was shocked by the discovery as the road is usually well-maintained and the layby frequently used as a scenic spot to observe Loch Ness.

“It’s absolutely shocking. It is well looked after, and that makes it even more shocking to see tyres discarded like that.

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“Somebody must have stopped there in a lorry. I suspect it happened at night when the road was quieter."

Shaw said he had already informed both Police Scotland and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) about the tyres.

However, he said fishing board is already attempting to organise a clean-up mission. “This particular location - it's going to be extremely difficult, even dangerous, to remove these tyres.

"To think that somebody would actually do that in a place like Loch Ness, it's just beyond belief.

“We've been speaking to some people who are trying to organise a clean-up and we've had some indication of support, so hopefully we'll organise that one way or another.

A spokesperson for SEPA said: 

"On Monday 29th January, we were made aware by the Ness District Salmon Fisheries Board of a large quantity of tyres disposed of on the banks of Loch Ness near Drumnadrochit. 

"A SEPA officer has attended the site and enquiries are ongoing. We also contacted Highland Council, which has its own plans in place for the safe removal of the tyres. 

"We will continue to liaise with partners until this is complete."