A local business has been fined £400 for fly-tipping after their details were found in rubbish dumped on Valence Avenue, Dagenham.

Up to 20 black bin bags were spotted by an eagle-eyed passer-by, who reported the offence to Barking and Dagenham Council.

Enforcement officers visited the scene and found household and garden waste in the bags, but on closer inspection uncovered business details and an address for a local pharmacy.

The offending business was issued with a £400 fixed penalty notice for fly-tipping under Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The establishment was also advised to make sure their bins are suitable for the amount of waste they produce.

Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, Councillor Syed Ghani, said: “It beggars’ belief that people think fly-tipping is something they can casually do, as if it is socially acceptable and it has no impact on other people.

“The truth is, it’s a crime and a plague on our communities. It costs taxpayers money and looks unsightly for the thousands of residents who aren’t selfish enough to throw rubbish into the street.

“This is another brilliant example of our report-it system working as it should: a fly-tip reported, our team quickly out to investigate, and the perpetrators quickly found. We urge all residents to report all fly-tipping they see to us.”

Report fly-tipping online at lbbd.gov.uk/report-fly-tipping.