A FAMILY photo helped snare a flytipper who had dumped 18 piles of rubbish along a country lane.

Durham County Council staff found clothes, shoes, books, DVDs, ornaments, electrical equipment and other rubbish scattered over three-quarters of a mile on Coalford Lane, near Durham.

They used dumped photo albums and documents containing names and addresses to track down the flytipper and bring him to justice.

He admitted a range of environmental offences at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Tuesday, June 30) and was ordered to pay nearly £1,000 in fines and costs.

Terry Collins, the council’s corporate director for neighbourhood services, said: “We investigate thousands of reports of flytipping each year, which takes up valuable resources, and the impact on the environment is extremely damaging.

“It’s pleasing to see the courts take this kind of offence seriously and it should serve as a warning to anyone else thinking about dumping their waste irresponsibly.”

To report environmental crimes, call 03000-261-000. Unlicensed waste carriers can be reported to Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.