MOBILE spy cameras are being wheeled out to catch litter louts illegally dumping rubbish in country lanes around Christchurch.

Clearing up the unsightly and unhealthy mess left by fly tippers is costing Christchurch council - and its council tax payers - around £15,000 a year. But Dorset Smokery boss Todd Sadler is fuming after the council refused to remove rubbish dumped in a field near his business at Hurn.

In latest in a long-running stream of fly-tipping around a dozen black plastic sacks filled to bursting with household waste were tipped in the entrance to a field off Hurn Court Lane.

"It is unbelievable that someone would do this. They must have used a lorry," said Mr Sadler.

But he was even more incredulous when council officials told him they would not remove the litter because it was on private land.

He said: "What do I do? Get the landowner to move it? Leave it where it is? or move it two metres into Hurn Court Lane, therefore it becomes the responsibility of Christchurch council.

"Somewhat of a dilemma but something has to be done. Also, the perpetrators of this very selfish fly tipping have to be brought to book and severely punished.

"Fly tipping is a major problem. Someone has got to do something about it. Common sense should prevail over what is legally required."

Keith Latham, waste and highways operations manager at Christchurch council, said: "If we cleared up rubbish on one piece of private land we would be duty-bound to do the same at other private property.

"We currently spend around £15,000 a year clearing up fly-tipping on public land and each visit to clear up rubbish costs us in the region of £20 to £30.

"That is why we have just acquired some covert cameras which we will be using to monitor our fly-tipping hot spots so that we can prosecute offenders.

It may be possible to set up a camera at this location at some time in the future."

Spy cameras are also being considered by neighbouring New Forest council as an added weapon in the war of waste being dumped at remote rural beauty spots.

East Dorset and North Dorset district councils are also considering ways in which CCTV cameras could be used to try to combat people who continue to fly tip.

Lindsay Cass, head of technical services with East Dorset District Council, said: "At the moment we are considering it and seeing if we can get funding for it.

"It is early days and whether or not it goes ahead will depend on if the funding is forthcoming."