FLYTIPPERS who blight the East Dorset countryside are being targeted in a crackdown by the Environment Agency and the district council.

Flytipping hotspots in Holt, St Leonards and St Ives are being made the subject of a campaign in which posters will be distributed throughout the area urging people to report flytipping to the Environment Agency so offenders can be caught and prosecuted.

Cllr Spencer Flower, lead member for the environment at East Dorset District Council, said: "We rely on the local community to be our eyes and ears when tracking down these criminals.

"If flytippers get the message that everyone is watching out for them we can catch them before they blight the environment further.

"We have chosen to launch the campaign in two East Dorset flytipping hotspots and we hope it will eventually be rolled out to other areas.

"If anyone sees flytipping they should let us know the time and place, how much waste and what sort , and perhaps most importantly a description of any vehicle and its registration number."

The campaign is being run by the East Dorset Community Partnership and is funded from a £10,000 grant from East Dorset District Council and will see warning signs put up in flytipping hotspots.

If you see flytipping call the Environment Agency's free 24 hour hotline on 0800 807060 or EDDC on 01202 886201 extension 2006.

Details of the opening times of household recycling centres are available from Dorset County Council on 01305 225002.

First published: October 30