MID-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff has called for the courts to impose higher punishments for fly tippers.

During questions to Environment Minister Alun Michael in the Commons on Thursday, Mr Luff said there was a "particularly sharp" fly-tipping problem in Spetchley and Bredicot.

He said rural police forces needed to be reminded of the need to make such cases priority and magistrates should be encouraged to hand down draconian sentences.

"Fly-tipping is illegal and grossly anti-social," Mr Luff said.

"We have a particular problem on the edge of Worcester and it will get worse as landfill tax increases put up the price of legitimate disposal."

Magistrates

Mr Michael said magistrates were encouraged to take environmental offences seriously.

"Much work is being done with the Magistrates Association to increase awareness of the impact of environmental offences on local communities," he said.

"As for police priorities, we are trying to improve the way in which the Environment Agency, local authorities and others work together to tackle such offences."

The current penalties for those found guilty of fly-tipping is a maximum fine of up to £20,000 and two years imprisonment for incidents involving non-hazardous waste, with unlimited fines and five years imprisonment for incidents involving hazardous waste.