Powers to clamp down on abandoned vehicles and fly-tipping have been welcomed in east Cleveland.

The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill, which has entered the Commons for its second reading, will give authorities the ability to tackle "envirocrime" head-on.

Redcar and Cleveland Council Borough has hailed the initiative, which will allow the authority to seize vehicles caught fly-tipping and to issue fixed penalty notices for fly posting, waste and graffiti offences.