Fly-tipped waste is discovered in Dorset five times a day on average, according to the latest figures.

This comes amid a rise nationally in the instances of fly-tipping, which may have been driven by the coronavirus lockdown.

Many waste facilities closed in late March 2020 after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said people should stay at home, except for essential travel.

This prompted calls in April for tips to be reopened after councils observed a surge in fly-tipping.

Earlier this month Dorset residents were asked to not visit recycling centres due to the high numbers of people using them during the latest national lockdown.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs data shows 1,870 fly-tipping incidents were reported to Dorset Council in 2019-20 – which also amounts to five times a day on average.

Dumped waste was found on Dorset's roads and pavements 1,127 times accounting for 60 per cent of incidents while 332 discoveries were made on footpaths and bridleways (18 per cent).

In the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) area the data shows there were 1,705 incidents reported in 2019-20.

BCP Council recorded no actions taken against fly-tippers in 2019-20.

But Dorset Council undertook 394 investigations, wrote 282 warning letters and issued 11 fixed penalty notices.

It also prosecuted one incident in court, at a cost of £1,945. Such action resulted in one fine, totalling £1,945, being handed to an offender.

Fly-tipped rubbish can include household waste, white goods and construction waste.

Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy says the crime is being driven by conmen who offer to remove household rubbish for a fee but do not dispose of it correctly.

David Renard, environment spokesman for the Local Government Association, said: “Fly-tipping is inexcusable.

"It is not only an eyesore for residents, but a serious public health risk, creating pollution and attracting rats and other vermin.

“We continue to urge the Government to review sentencing guidelines for fly-tipping, so that offenders are given bigger fines for more serious offences to act as a deterrent."

He added that manufacturers should provide more take-back services so customers can hand in old goods when they buy new ones.

Dorset Council portfolio holder for customer and community services, Cllr Jill Haynes, said: “Our enforcement team are out every day investigating incidents, and have set up pro-active partnerships with Dorset Police, the DVLA and Litter Free Dorset, as well as working with private landowners, the Environment Agency, Keep Britain Tidy, and various housing associations.

"In 2019/20, we took around 300 enforcement actions related to fly-tipping, including fixed penalty notices and prosecutions.

"But everyone needs to understand their personal liability when it comes to their waste, which is your legal responsibility until it is correctly disposed of in the right place.

"If you cannot get to a recycling centre and you hand your waste to someone – such as an unlicensed ‘man in a van’ found on social media – who then fly-tips it, you also risk prosecution and a criminal record.

"Therefore, please make sure you only use a reputable waste carrier when handing rubbish to someone else."