A new enforcement team has been launched to help tackle fly tipping across the area.

Warwick District Council (WDC) says there has been a 26 per cent rise in the number of reports of fly-tipping.

In 2021 there were 2,032 reported cases, compared to 2,563 last year.

As a result, the council has created two new positions - contract development and enforcement officer and waste education and enforcement officer - to help tackle the issue.

Their job is to enforce fly-tipping, accumulated waste, and bins on the highway, as well as making regular spot checks across the district.

WDC is also collaborating with the University of Warwick on the new initiative.

Cllr Will Roberts, portfolio holder for neighbourhood, said: "The rise in fly-tipping has led us to introduce this new enforcement team who will be targeting areas with high numbers of fly-tipping and accumulated waste.

"Whilst the team's goal is to reduce the amount of fly-tipping through education, they will have the power to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £1,000 where people deliberately and consistently choose to fly-tip.

"I'm also pleased that Warwick University is working in partnership with the council by contributing towards the waste education and enforcement officer position."

Ben Hayday, community partnerships manager at the University of Warwick, added: "We are pleased to contribute to the new role at Warwick District Council to bring in more education and enforcement on the ground.

"We are working together to help our neighbouring communities be cleaner and more sustainable.

"With the Students' Union, we offer guidance on how to do this successfully, including managing waste and recycling."