Landowners in the Maldon district are being warned to protect their land from flytipping.

The warning comes in the light of a sharp increase in the number of complaints about illegal tipping received by Maldon District Council.

Complaints have almost doubled from 147 last year to 260.

Unscrupulous traders are resorting to illegal methods to dispose of waste following the increase in landfill tax.

The problem has been further increased by the introduction of height restrictions at Essex County Council civic amenity sites to deter trade use.

But while the council has a duty to clear flytips deposited on the highway, the responsibility to clear waste dumped on private land rests with the landowner.

The council, has teamed up with street cleaning contractors B G Appleton and the Environment Agency to identify the flytippers.

Anyone with information should contact Maldon District Council, environmental services on 01621 875827.

Trudie Bragg, environment services manager for Maldon District Council, said: "It can come as a big shock to landowners when they are told they have to arrange and pay for clearance of waste left on their land.

"Our advice is to secure their land against unauthorised entry and to keep it in a neat and tidy condition - if it looks like a tip, it may become one."

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