More than 100 tonnes of illegal rubbish was dumped in 2004
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Covert surveillance cameras buried in the ground are being used to trap fly-tippers in Northumberland.
The move, by Castle Morpeth Council, follows the illegal dumping of more than 100 tonnes of rubbish in the borough in 2004.
The hi-tech surveillance system has two small cameras which are secreted in the ground and are triggered by movement.
The equipment will also be modified to catch vandals and capture other anti-social behaviour.
One camera has a wide angled lens, the other a zoom lens, and they start filming as soon as a vehicle arrives at the fly-tipping location chosen for the surveillance.
They will pick up licence plates and the face of the driver to help secure prosecutions.
Digital photography
One of the fly-tipping hotspots last year was Hagg Farm, north of Ellington, which had more than 300 tyres, fridges and three-piece suites dumped. The area has since been cleared.
As well as the cameras, on-the-spot fines are being introduced for people caught dropping litter and allowing dog fouling.
Up to 20 staff will be out carrying hand held computers using GIS technology and digital photography, with the power to issue �50 fixed fines.
A spokesman for Castle Morpeth Council said: "We will no longer tolerate people abusing the local environment.
"We recorded 103 tonnes of rubbish dumped by fly-tippers last year alone, with 252 separate incidents.
"That is nothing short of a disgrace and the people responsible should be ashamed of themselves."
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