Cotswold District Council has successfully identified and fined an individual for fly-tipping a large quantity of bark chips in Northleach thanks to evidence provided by a local resident who witnessed the illegal act.

The fly-tipper was caught dumping over two tonnes of commercial green waste by a local man who decided to capture the illegal act on his camera. Thanks to the eyewitness information provided by the resident, and assistance from local Police officers, the Council issued a fixed penalty notice of £400.

Cllr Andrew Doherty, cabinet member for waste and recycling, said: "Fly-tipping of any kind is a criminal offence and a blight on our beautiful district. This Council will use its powers of enforcement in all cases where we are able to, either through the issue of a Fixed Penalty Notice or through a prosecution.

"We will continue to work hard to reduce and prevent waste from being dumped illegally; with the ultimate goal to stop fly-tipping in the Cotswolds. With the help of residents, we can make your area a safer, cleaner and greener place for all.

"I would like to thank our local Police teams whose assistance has been invaluable in helping us to crack down on environmental crime here in the Cotswolds. My thanks also go to the local resident who reported this crime to us and I would encourage all our residents to report any and all environmental crimes they witness as a matter of urgency.

"If you have evidence of a fly-tip or concerns about the illegal dumping of waste in your community, please report on our website: cotswold.gov.uk/flytipping."

Everyone has a legal 'duty of care' to ensure your household or business waste is disposed of correctly. If fly-tipping is traced back to you, you could face a £400 fixed penalty notice.

Fly-tipping is the illegal deposit of waste onto land. This causes a significant blight on the local environment and is often a source of pollution, which can endanger public health and wildlife.