ATTEMPTS are being made to tackle illegal tipping in a village after nearly 100 tyres were found dumped on the banks of the River Wear.

Fly-tippers are plaguing Witton Park, near Bishop Auckland, which campaigners are attempting to turn into a tourist attraction.

In the latest incident, 80 tyres were dumped by the River Wear, just north of the village, prompting Wear Valley district councillor Derek Jago to call for urgent action to catch the culprits.

Coun Jago, who is involved in the formation of a steering group to promote the area as a tourist destination, said their efforts were being undermined by the tipping.

A nature reserve is being built on reclaimed land and a bid is being assembled to buy a station house in the village, for use as a visitors' centre.

Coun Jago said: "There has been a lot of this type of tipping over the past couple of years. It is because people are trying to avoid paying the environment tax for using landfill sites. I shall be asking the council's environmental officers to take the strongest possible action to find out who these people are and prosecute them. It just is not on when we are trying to give the area a good appearance and attract tourists."

The Environment Agency is making arrangements to remove the tyres.

A spokesman for the agency urged anyone who may know who dumped the tyres to call the Environment Agency's free hot-line on 0800 807060.