COUNCIL chiefs in Hartlepool have issued a warning to fly-tippers as part of an ongoing drive to clean up the town.

They have vowed to continue using sophisticated covert cameras to gather evidence of illegal dumping that can be used to take offenders to court.

It follows a successful prosecution at Hartlepool Magistrates' Court, where Alan William Smithson, of Warren Road, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to illegally depositing controlled waste, a breach of the 1990 Environmental Protection Act.

He was fined £400, with costs of £300 and £131 compensation.

Smithson was caught on camera as he dumped waste from a truck at night on land in the town's Brenda Road.

Ian Burton, Hartlepool Borough Council's environmental enforcement manager, said: "We want people to be in no doubt that we are determined to combat fly-tipping and we will relentlessly pursue offenders.

"The tiny cameras that we use are virtually impossible to spot, and are also capable of filming at night, so all would-be fly-tippers might want to ask themselves whether it is worth the risk.

"I would suggest that they can never be sure that they are not being filmed."

The council has spent £30,000 to purchase eight camera units which are easily moved.

Hartlepool Mayor Stuart Drummond said: "The town's image has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years, and I'm delighted that these cameras are being used so successfully to curb the activities of people who seem intent on ruining all the good work.

"I hope the fear of prosecution will make people tempted to fly-tip waste think twice, and that they will dispose of the waste legally."

Mr Burton said: "It actually costs only about £3 per week to purchase a licence from the Environment Agency, which entitles a person to legitimately use a licensed waste disposal site.

"This seems like a small price to pay for the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you are operating legally and not running the risk of a heavy fine, or even imprisonment and the confiscation of your vehicle."

The council can apply to a court to have an offending vehicle confiscated, while the maximum penalty that can be levied under the 1990 Environmental Protection Act is a £50,000 fine and/or 12 months imprisonment.