TINY cameras are to be hidden at flytipping hotspots to catch people who dump rubbish illegally.

Hambleton Community Safety Partnership has taken delivery of the cameras, which are linked to a computer system.

The cameras are the latest pieces of equipment bought by the partnership to help fight crime.

It now has £77,000 of mobile CCTV cameras, speed matrix signs, transportable youth shelters and automatic car number plate readers.

The partnership also has two sets of body surveillance equipment. The £3,000 devices hook on to the ear and can record low level anti-social behaviour as it is happening.

Partnership officer Tim Woods said: "Our stock of crime-fighting equipment is growing all the time, boosting the capabilities of the officers on the street.

"They can be used to check out known hotspots and record evidence.

"The covert cameras are especially useful in detecting problems of fly tipping.

"There are several areas across Hambleton where we have problems.

"These cameras will help us identify who is dumping rubbish illegally."