Yobs have set fire to a controversial mountain of rubbish at a former scrapyard in Wolverhampton, just weeks after the city council said the land would be cleared.

Firefighters were called to the former Jones of Bilston skip hire site in Monmore Road, Monmore Green, at 11.50pm last night and were there until 9am today damping down.

The pile of rubbish contains building materials, plastic sheeting, rotting wooden boxes and tyres. Council officers were due to begin clearing it next Tuesday.

Bilston station watch commander Danny Hinds today confirmed the blaze was arson, adding: “There was a large amount of rubbish on fire, at least 100 tons.”

Wolverhampton City Council, which now has control of the site, estimates the eyesore mound, higher than some neighbouring buildings, will cost between £250,000 and £750,000 to clear.

The authority will meet the previous tenants at a county court case management hearing on April 5 to discuss reclaiming the costs. Residents and neighbouring businesses have complained about the rubbish mound for five years.