COUNCILLORS have urged the public to report fly-tipping to the county council in a bid to curb the costly rural crime.

At this month’s Allendale Parish Council meeting, councillors said large amount of garden waste as well as aerosols, cans and tins were regularly found abandoned on land throughout the parish.

Members of the public have taken to social media to report and photograph cases of fly-tipping in the area including land near the Spittal, to the south of the village, and near the landmark chimneys to the east of the village.

Coun. Geoff Lee said: “Because it’s garden waste, the thought is that it is local contractors. Can we highlight that, whatever is being left, all fly-tipping is illegal? If these incidents aren’t being reported then it’s just going to encourage them more.”

Chairman of the council, Coun. David Crellin, added: “If you are aware of it then report it to the council.”

Data from waste removal company Clearitwaste.com said that 2.9km of waste was dumped throughout Northumberland in 2019.

Glen Sanderson, Northumberland County Council cabinet member for Environment Local Services, said: “Unfortunately there appears to be a rise in illegal waste carriers, often advertising through social media.

“If residents or businesses are to use an independent waste carrier, they must always ask to see the operator’s waste carrier licence, which is issued by the Environment Agency, and the relevant waste transfer notes.

“This is really important because if residents make the mistake of employing an unscrupulous operator and their waste is dumped illegally, they too are committing an offence and could face a large fine.”