FLY-TIPPERS are being hunted by Darlington Borough Council after a clean-up operation saw more than three tonnes of illegally dumped waste cleared in a week.

The council's environmental response team has mounted a campaign against offenders who dump waste in the streets following the town-wide clean up.

The team spent more than five hours last week clearing fly-tipped waste from hedgerows, pond sides and roadsides around Redworth village.

The waste included building refuse in black bin liners, tyres, rubber matting and general commercial waste.

In Darlington, the team visited Melville Street, in the Denes area, which is a well-known fly-tipping site.

Officers found more waste left by the illegal tippers, which was cleared away.

The response team and uniformed wardens are inspecting evidence found among the rubbish in an attempt to find those responsible.

The council's fly-tipping campaign supports a national initiative against the problem which is being run by environmental campaign group Encams during May.

The borough council, backed by The Northern Echo, launched an anti-litter drive last November aiming to clean up the town centre and residential areas.

More than 300 on-the-spot fines of £50 have been handed out to people caught littering since the launch.

Councillor Paul Baldwin, the council's cabinet member for community protection, said: "Our environmental response team is working hard responding to telephone calls from members of the public who report incidences of fly-tipping and litter hotspots.

"The team also carries out regular litter clean ups. Working with our uniformed wardens, fly-tippers will be caught, fined and named and shamed in Darlington.

"The message is clear, fly-tipping will not be tolerated in the borough of Darlington."

Offenders have already been warned that they could be fined up to £25,000, face six months in prison and shamed as the council cracks down on fly-tipping.

Enforcement days have proved a success, with wardens focusing on individual areas of the town, handing out advice to residents and issuing fines to offenders.

More initiatives are planned and will be discussed by councillors.

Residents in the town can help the council win the war on fly-tipping by reporting any incidents of fly-tipping or giving the names of fly-tippers.

The council has set up a litter hotline to deal with calls on (01325) 388777.