A CLAMPDOWN on the illegal transportation of waste and fly-tipping is to be launched in a Teesside town.

Environmental officers in Hartlepool have joined forces with police and customs officers to stop illegal tipping.

Vehicles will be spot-checked in an action day this week, although exact timings are being kept secret.

Ian Burton, senior enforcement officer with Hartlepool's Environmental Action Team, said: "We receive many public complaints about fly-tipping which has a severe impact on the local environment, and this clampdown is part of our ongoing drive to keep Hartlepool clean and tidy.

"We are able, acting with the police, to stop, search and even seize vehicles that are found to be breaking the law, and we are determined to use the full extent of our legal powers to clampdown on people transporting and dumping waste illegally.

"We want people to be in no doubt about where we stand on fly-tipping.

"It is completely unacceptable and we are not prepared to tolerate it."

The stop, search and seize powers are complementing other ongoing initiatives including covert cameras at fly-tipping hot-spots and a high-tech computer link to the DVLA in Swansea.

Statistics highlight the problem in the town, with 384 fly-tipping investigations carried out by the Environmental Action Team last year.

Anyone with information about fly-tipping can contact the Environmental Action Team by calling Hartlepool Borough Council's customer contact centre on (01429) 523333.