‘Don't say we didn’t warn you’ – that’s the message from Dorset Waste Partnership after a number of signs have been erected in fly-tipping hot spots, including around Bridport.

The signs have gone up in places around the county which are frequently used for illegally dumping waste.

The signs include messages such as ‘fly-tipping is a criminal offence’ and ‘penalty on conviction will be a £50,000 max fine.”

Dorset Waste Partnership hopes the signs will assist its enforcement activities, which also include investigations, fines and prosecutions.

Paul Ackrill, Head of Commercial Waste and Strategy at the Dorset Waste Partnership, said: “These signs have been placed in locations around the county and are part of the Dorset Waste Partnership’s anti-flytipping enforcement action.

"We work closely with local Dorset residents, the police and our own clean-up crews to identify places that are used by persistent fly-tippers and then install the signs to alert people that we are monitoring the area.

"They are currently on display in various locations including around Bridport and Dorchester but may move depending on which fly-tipping hotspots come to our attention in the future.

"Other enforcement actions include tracing where illegally dumped waste has originated from, fining unlicensed waste carriers and taking fly-tippers to court. To find out more about how you can help us fight against this illegal and anti-social activity, please visit www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/tip-off.”