ALMOST 200 people in County Durham are paying the price for committing environmental crimes such as fly-tipping.

Throughout October and November Durham County Council’s neighbourhood protection team issued 142 fixed penalty notices for littering, 11 for dog fouling and 39 for failing to respond to requests to clear untidy yards or gardens.

A total of 1,264 fly-tipping incidents were reported in the same period, resulting in 38 household waste duty of care letters being sent out and three business waste duty of care letters issued.

The council recently launched a new campaign, Operation Stop It, against fly-tippers and householders who do not dispose of their waste properly.

Ian Hoult, the council’s neighbourhood protection manager, said: “Our neighbourhood wardens continue to respond to community concerns and we work with police to tackle environmental offences.

“We have also launched Operation Stop It to crack down on waste-related crimes by educating people about fly-tipping.

“We will not tolerate fly-tipping in our county. Anyone without the correct licence to carry, transport or dispose of waste, as well as anyone caught on camera dumping their rubbish, will be fined and could also face prosecution.”