FLY-TIPPERS have been warned they face massive fines after waste was dumped in Colchester.

Officers from Essex Police’s Rural Engagement Team discovered a pile of waste dumped in Layer Road, Colchester, on Thursday.

After searching for evidence of where the fly-tipping came from, the officers reported it to Colchester City Council.

A spokesman for Colchester City Council confirmed the waste has now been removed.

He added: "We are pleased to report that the fly-tipping incident in Layer Road has now been cleared.

“If you witness fly-tipping in your area, please report it to your relevant Neighbourhood team. Details can be found on the council's website.

"We will then clear the fly-tip as soon as possible.

“Fly-tipping is a serious offence and can incur an unlimited fine upon conviction.

"All fly-tips are searched and investigated, and often lead to successful prosecutions or fines.

"If you find any evidence at a fly-tip, please do not touch it. Instead, report it to the council so that it can be investigated.”

In June, the Gazette shared the Colchester streets that were the worst affected by fly-tipping.

These included Avon Way, Hunwicke Road, Wheeler Close and Stanley Wooster Way, all in Greenstead alongside Barrack Street and Artillery Street in New Town and Christ Church.

Maidenburgh Street in Colchester’s historic Dutch Quarter was among the top ten streets which saw the most flytipping between May 2022 and April 2023.

Harwich Road, in St Anne’s and St John’s, Mill Road, in Highwoods, and Hythe Hill finished off the top ten.

Fly-tipping refers to the illegal dumping of waste products without a waste management licence.

Reports of illegally dumped waste can be made online at colchester.gov.uk/street-cleaning.