FLY-TIPPERS are on the retreat thanks to a determined drive to tackle the practice in South Lakeland.

Latest figures show that in 2013/14 South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) staff investgated 617 reported cases of fly-tipping in the district.

This is down 17.5 per cent on last year’s figure of 748 reported cases, and down by more than a quarter on the 828 reported cases two years ago.

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In the past 18 months SLDC has successfully prosecuted nine fly-tippers and two more cases, one in Kendal and one in the Ulverston area, are currently ongoing.

According to SLDC Neighbourhood Enforcement Officer John Barwise, the authority’s tough stance on fly tipping and zero tolerance approach is being reflected in the falling numbers of incidents being reported.

Mr Barwise said: “The message seems to be getting through that we take a strong line on fly-tipping in South Lakeland.

“But equally we are not complacent. We are very thorough and leave no stone unturned in our investigations. “We will get in there with our gloves on to search through the fly-tipped waste to find evidence to trace the person responsible.’’ In the most recent prosecution, a fly-tipper was hit with fines and court costs totalling nearly £900 for dumping an old mattress and the frame of a bed in Windermere.

To report an incident call SLDC’s Customer Contact Centre on 0845 0504434 or the Environment Agency on 0800 807060.