CCTV cameras could be put up in Herefordshire as part of renewed efforts to tackle the blight of flytipping on the rural county.

Dumped sofas, carpets and black bags of household waste can be a common sight across the county, but fresh funding from the police and crime commissioner should help tackle the problem.

West Mercia Police commissioner John Campion has handed Herefordshire Council £20,000 for new signs and cameras and improved ways of reporting flytipping.

Partners will also work together more to prevent rubbish being dumped and more advice for landowners.

He said there will also be a further £10,000 invested to prevent tyre dumping, with the new Tyre Tag initiative a force-wide project to prevent garages from being targeted by organised criminals to illegally dispose of tyres.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs data shows 392 fly-tipping incidents were reported to Herefordshire Council in 2020-21.

This was down from the 685 discoveries made the year before.

Meanwhile, three fines, a combined £2,850, resulting from court convictions were issued in the area last year – down from six in 2019-20.

Herefordshire Council carried out 176 enforcement actions in 2020-21, including 31 fixed penalty notices.

Commissioner John Campion said: “Flytipping is an issue which has been raised by our communities time and time again.

"Not only is it unsightly and a nuisance, it causes a substantial cost to landowners and is hazardous to our environment and wildlife."

Coun Ange Tyler, cabinet member for housing, regulatory services, and community safety, said: "Every flytip complaint logged to Herefordshire Council is investigated and where at all possible we will always prosecute.

"This initiative will help us to protect the many landowners, farmers and communities who are left with the problem of dumped rubbish on their land, particularly as they then have to pick up the waste disposal costs themselves."