A MAN has been fined after he was caught on camera flytipping in a village.

John Hall, 30, of Windsor Terrace, Haswell, was caught on CCTV dumping waste from a vehicle on privately-owned land off Black Lane, Wheatley Hill.

He pleaded guilty at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court to disposing of controlled waste and was fined £320 and ordered to pay £340, as well as a victim surcharge of £32.

A covert camera was placed in the area following earlier incidents of flytipping. While carrying out regular patrols a Durham County Council neighbourhood warden spotted the flytip, consisting of a mattress and general household waste.

The warden reviewed the footage which showed a man pull up to the scene at 6.50pm on September 22, 2018 and proceed to dump waste from his vehicle before driving away.

In mitigation, Hall admitted the waste was his and was regretful. He also claimed he initially took the items to Thornley Household Waste Recycling Centre, Shotton Colliery, but was told that the items could not be recycled there and was turned away.

Ian Hoult, Durham County Council’s neighbourhood protection manager, said: “Flytipping not only blights our beautiful county, it can land you with a fine of up to £50,000 and a criminal record.

“Most people dispose of their waste responsibly however we hope that this prosecution will deter anyone who thinks they are above the law.”

To find out how to report flytipping visit http://www.durham.gov.uk/flytipping.