STEPS have been taken to prevent illegal dumping at an allotment site on Teesside.

Steel gates have been erected to try to prevent unauthorised access to an approach road at the rear of Bruntoft Avenue, in Hartlepool, and between 25 and 30 large roadside boulders are acting as a further barrier to would-be tippers' vehicles.

Hartlepool Borough Council's North Neighbourhood Consultative Forum has spent more than £3,000 from its minor works budget on the measures.

Councillor Rob Cook, chairman of the forum, said: "This is all about responding to concerns expressed by local people, and taking action to improve their quality of life.

"The minor works budget was established to help fund solutions to grassroots problems, and these measures are a perfect example of that."

Frequent fly-tipping at the allotments, involving a mixture of domestic and commercial waste, has sparked many complaints from residents in the past.

Coun Cook said: "The gates and the boulders seem to have had a positive impact, and they appear to be working well. However, we also need the support of local residents if we are to effectively tackle problems caused by fly-tipping.

"I would urge anyone who sees dumping in progress, or notices a vehicle acting suspiciously, to take as many details of the vehicle as possible - particularly its registration number - and contact the council.