FLY-TIPPING is costing County Durham taxpayers hundreds of thousands of pounds a year, according to a new report.

The study, by Durham County Council's working group set up to tackle the illegal dumping of waste, reveals for the first time the full extent of the problem.

It is estimated that about 9,000 tonnes of fly-tipped waste had to be cleared up by district councils in 2002-2003.

It cost the authority £249,000 to dispose of in landfill sites, while the district and borough councils had to pay for collection and the Environment Agency spent thousands on enforcement action.

The problem can also hit landowners. The report states a recent incident on land next to East Howle Caravan Park in Wear Valley cost the landowner £26,000 to clean up.

The worst spot for offending was Derwentside, which accounted for more than a third of all fly-tipping in the county.

Councillor Trevor Carroll, chairman of the working group, said: "Fly-tipping is unsightly, objectionable and damages our environment.

"Many of us at some time will pass a pile of abandoned rubbish in a quiet country lane and shake our heads in disbelief."

The county council has to pay landfill tax of £15 for every tonne of rubbish buried. The tax is to more than double in the next six years, rising to £35 a tonne in 2010.

It fears that more operators will try to avoid the charge by disposing of waste illegally, instead of taking it to an authorised landfill site.

In May, the county council and five of the district authorities agreed to jointly hire an officer to identify and prosecute offenders.

The working group's study found that, each month, 48,000kg of waste is illegally dumped in Wear Valley alone - enough to cover a football pitch in a four-inch deep layer.

It also revealed that, because there is often little traceable evidence of fly-tipping culprits, council officers are reluctant to prosecute.

Out of the seven district and borough councils, only Chester-le-Street has undertaken a prosecution.

The report recommends a joint approach to tackling fly-tipping, and increasing the opening hours of household waste recycling centres.

It is due to be discussed by the county council's scrutiny sub-committee, at County Hall, Durham, this morning.