FLYTIPPING has gone down by nearly a third in West Oxfordshire and almost £5,000 of fines were given out.

West Oxfordshire District Council is putting the drop down to its setting up of a team dedicated to cracking down on the problem in 2007.

In 2006-7, there were 736 reported fly-tipping incidents. Figures for 2012-13 show there were 503.

The council set up an environmental enforcement team to combat fly-tipping and environmental crimes.

As a result, 21 people have been prosecuted for fly-tipping offences.

For more minor fly-tipping offences, 61 people have been given £80 fixed penalty fines, 15 have been cautioned and 219 warning letters issued.

The council's cabinet member for environment, David Harvey, said: “Fly-tipping is a scourge and so we are pleased that the council’s actions have helped to clamp down on this problem.

“Our Environmental enforcement team works closely with the police and Environment Agency and we use methods including CCTV to investigate incidents reported to us.

“Members of the public help enormously too, not only by reporting fly tips so that we can clear them up as quickly as possible, but also by contacting us when they have witnessed suspicious behaviour.”

Anyone caught fly-tipping could face prosecution and a fine up of to £50,000 or up to five years in jail.

Fly-tipping can be reported online at westoxon.gov.uk/reportit or by calling 01993 861060.