It's a blot on our landscapes - whether dumped in a stream in the countryside or a town centre car park. But what is the true cost of fly tipping?

Latest figures from DEFRA show cleaning up after fly tippers cost taxpayers £85,000 in Gloucester, £62,000 in Stroud and £32,000 in the Forest of Dean. The lowest figures for Gloucestershire were recorded in the Cotswolds at £19,000, as reported by The Forester.

The number of fly tipping incidents in the Forest of Dean is decreasing each year, which is directly linked to the proactive work the council is doing to tackle the problem.

Forest of Dean District Council told Punchline:

• All reported incidents of fly tipping are investigated by the council's street warden team

• Any evidence which contains markers or addresses is seized.

• As a result of investigations and where sufficient evidence exists, staff can issue fixed penalty notices, simple cautions, carry out duty of care inspections and undertake prosecutions.

For the past two years, the council has been working with the environmental charity Hubbub on the #LoveYourForest anti-litter campaign to raise awareness.

Punchline says it's good to see that local councils are taking a stand against the fly tippers. Fly tippers are not only spoiling the environment for others, they are also undercutting genuine businesses who dispose of waste responsibly.