TIGHTER controls on illegal tipping in Worcester could be pushing the problem outside the city boundary.

Cameras have been installed at Offerton Lane, in Worcester's Shire Business Park, to end a long-standing problem of illegal tipping and measures have been taken to prevent the tipping of trade waste at the county's free household waste sites.

In the Malvern Hills District, fly-tipping incidents average 30 per month and December saw a spate of fly-tipping in country lanes around Kempsey.

Items dumped included a pile of tree stumps, a burnt-out car, a settee and a load of soil and concrete slabs.

"It's been very quiet for months and suddenly there has been an upsurge of fly-tipping," said Kempsey district councillor Henry Morris.

"I suspect a lot of this would have been dumped in the city before they installed CCTV cameras at various sites and now it is being forced out into the countryside.

"It all has to be shifted by Malvern Hills District Council, at a cost to the council taxpayers."

Mr Morris said heavy lifting gear would be needed to move the concrete and the leylandii tree stumps, complete with roots.

Alex Bill, of Malvern Hills District Council, said there had been a slight increase in fly-ping, with incidents running at an average of 30 per month around the district.

"A lot of this is potential builders' rubble. You always have unscrupulous traders who are not prepared to pay the disposal charges at landfill sites," he said.

"For items like settees and fridges, householders should use the district council's collection service.

"We will pick up bulky surplus from your own property at a cost of £15 for three items.

"Alternatively, people can take it to the tip themselves."

He urged people to inform the council if they saw waste being tipped in the countryside, so that action could be taken against the offenders.

Those found guilty could face fines of up to £20,000 and two years' imprisonment.