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Fly-tipped sofa becomes unlikely attraction

Alex Elton-Wall A motorcyclist in blue jeans, a black leather jacket, leather gloves, black goggles and a black helmet sits on a sofa with his hands on his knees. The sofa has been left on a patch of wasteland and behind it a makeshift window has been created with white curtains hanging on it. A coffee table sits in front of the sofa while there is a white, metal lamp with a grey shade to the left of the photograph as well as a black bin. The man's black motorbike is visible to the right of the shot next to a small wooden side table with a potted plant on top of it.Alex Elton-Wall
The sofa was abandoned on wasteland in the middle of a village

A sofa dumped by the side of a road in Gloucestershire has become an unlikely tourist attraction.

The two-seater settee was abandoned on wasteland in the middle of the village of Lydbrook at the beginning of April.

Despite fly-tipping being illegal and punishable by large fines or even prison time, more furniture has since been added and the site has become a popular resting spot.

Local photographer Alex Elton-Wall has now taken the portraits of more than 140 nearby residents at the "homely" site.

"It was just the sofa," he said. "But then a coffee table, hatstand, lampshade and a potted plant turned up, so now it's the Lydbrook Lounge."

Fly-tipping is illegal and so dumping waste in this way is a criminal offence. Anyone caught fly-tipping can receive an unlimited fine if prosecuted criminally, or up to five years in prison.

The beige floral sofa was left near traffic lights beside the main road through the village, with Mr Elton-Wall saying it is "very visible to everyone".

"I know fly-tipping is bad but every time I drove through the village and went past it, it made me smile," he said.

"It looked so lonely but familiar and homely and I thought it's just crying out to have someone sit on it and have their portrait taken."

Alex Elton-Wall A life-size statue of a white sheep has been placed in front of a fly-tipped sofa. A brown patch of wasteland is visible beneath it with patches of grass in the background. A tall floor lamp and a black coffee table with a dead plant on top have been placed next to the sofa to create a living room type scene.Alex Elton-Wall
Photographer Alex Elton-Wall appealed to residents to have their portraits taken on the sofa
Alex Elton-Wall About a dozen people pose for a jovial photograph at the site of the fly-tip. They look to be celebrating some kind of special occasion, with some of them wearing sashes often seen at hen parties. About half of the men and women have heart-shaped sunglasses on and many of them are holding up cups of drinks as if to 'cheers' the camera.Alex Elton-Wall
More than 140 people have been photographed along with lots of dogs, a chicken, a tortoise and a horse

He appealed on social media to anyone "brave enough" to have their photograph taken sitting on the sofa.

"The response was just amazing, everybody embraced it," he said.

"Some bought props with them. The pub landlord bought some beer barrels and the woman who runs the cafe came with all the waitresses and was serving high tea."

With photoshoots set up almost everyday last week, Mr Elton-Wall has photographed more than 140 local people, along with lots of dogs, a chicken, a tortoise and a horse.

The results will be appear in a photobook, which will be sold to raise money for playground equipment.

Alex Elton-Wall A woman lying on a fly-tipped sofa, resting her legs on one arm and her back on the other. She has one hand in her lap and another in the air and is smiling joyfully at the camera. She is wearing a burgundy jumper, red leggings and her red coat is hanging on the lampshade next to the sofa, with the colours contrasting nicely with the beige and white sofa and coffee table.Alex Elton-Wall
A photobook of the portraits will be sold at the summer fete in July
Teresa Smith A group of five people and two dogs pose for a picture at the fly-tipping site. Two of them sit on the sofa, one of them with a white dog on their lap, while another person is crouching down leaning on the arm of the settee. The other two people are standing either side of the lamp, holding onto it with one hand each and smiling.Teresa Smith
The sofa has become a bit of tourist attraction and has its own Tripadvisor listing

The once "lonely" sofa has now become a bit of tourist attraction and has its own listing on Tripadvisor, with scores of visitors posting photographs of themselves on the Lydbrook Lounge Facebook page.

Last week, the sofa was joined by a bedsit's worth of furniture.

The additions are thought to be the work of the village's secret artist Tumpsy, who was behind a rash of googly eyes popping up all over the village a couple of years ago.

"I think Tumpsy must have started bringing things to keep the sofa company," said Mr Elton-Wall.

"But I'd love to know who fly-tipped the sofa, [I] bet they're laughing and finding this all absolutely hilarious."

Forest wanderer Two Collie-typed dogs photographed at the fly-tipping site. One of them is sat on the sofa and another is sitting in front of it. The sofa now has a microwave on the coffee table in front of it as well as a window, alloy, lamp and two plant pots around it. Forest wanderer
It has become a well-furnished resting spot for passing walkers

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