Rubbish was dumped and reported more than 1,000 times in Carlisle - in one year.

Flytipping is an unsightly scourge on the streets of Cumbria and thousands of pounds has come out of the pocket of the councils to clear the mess.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs data shows 1,030 fly-tipping incidents were reported to Carlisle City Council in 2019-20 – although this is 50 fewer than the previous year.

Almost 20 incidents saw fly-tippers discard enough rubbish to fill a tipper lorry each, costing the council £5,950 to clear.

Rising by almost 30, Copeland Borough Council had 266 fly-tipping incidents in 2019-20 - 29 more than the previous year.

Allerdale has seen the biggest drop in reported incidents, with more than 200 less than the previous year. Only 689 fly-tipping incidents were reported in 2019-20 – 238 fewer than the previous year.

However, 36 incidents saw fly-tippers discard enough rubbish to fill a tipper lorry each, costing the Allerdale council £12,600 to clear.

Shirley Procter-Dow, Copeland’s community services manager, is not happy with the figures.

“It is always disappointing to see an increase in fly tipping," she said. "It damages wildlife, de-faces the countryside and costs the taxpayer.

“We know residents hate to see fly tips and we will always prosecute where we are able.”

David Renard, spokesman for the Local Government Association, said: “Fly-tipping is inexcusable.

“It is not only an eyesore for residents, but a serious public health risk, creating pollution and attracting rats and other vermin.

“We continue to urge the Government to review sentencing guidelines for fly-tipping, so that offenders are given bigger fines for more serious offences to act as a deterrent.”

Allison Ogden-Newton, chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy, said: “This environmental crime is being driven by ‘man with a van’ operators who are conning the public with what appears to be a cheap way of getting rid of their rubbish, but one that leads to illegal disposal and environmental devastation.

“Tragically, some businesses hold a waste carrier licence are breaking the law and fly-tipping the rubbish households pay them to remove. This must stop. We believe the only way to prevent further law-breaking is to fundamentally reform the system.”