BROMSGROVE residents are being encouraged to look out for fly-tippers over the Easter bank holiday weekend.

This comes as Bromsgrove District Council leader, councillor Karen May, has issued an appeal to residents to report any suspicious behaviour.

The council have pledged they will remove fly-tipping when reported but are keen to clamp down on the issue and help prosecute offenders.

Councillor Karen May said: "Fly tipping is a scourge on our beautiful countryside, no one issue unites us more than this and I would ask us all as a community to do our bit to prevent this. The police, district and county councillors are all taking the problem very seriously and we are looking at various options to stop this abhorrent practise. However, what is extremely successful is the vigilance of our residents.

“If you see someone acting in a suspicious way please make a note of the vehicle registration number, a description of the individuals involved and report it. With your help we can hopefully catch and prosecute these criminals."

A council spokesperson said: “We urge our residents not to hire a ‘man with a van’ but rather use a reputable company and check on the Environment Agency website that they have a valid waste carriers’ licence, or use the Council’s bulky waste service, to remove items if they are unable to do so themselves.

"If the ‘man with a van’ is caught fly-tipping then the person hiring the service is also liable and can face a substantial fine.”

Bromsgrove District Council are currently rolling out new and deployable CCTV cameras in the area which will target fly-tipping as well as anti-social behaviour and other criminal activity.

To report fly-tipping, visit this website.