A £300 fine has been issued to a fly-tipper who left plastic bottles and face masks strewn across the path of a Stevenage cemetery.

Stevenage Borough Council issued the fixed penalty notice after the rubbish was reported to them and an investigation was carried out.

Councillor John Gardner, executive member for environment and regeneration, said: “Fly-tipping is dangerous, unsightly, and costs us time and money to clear.

"This rubbish included used masks, which puts our staff in danger as well as wildlife. Fortunately we were able to identify the perpetrator through items included in the fly-tip.

“We hope that this sends out a clear message to anyone thinking of fly-tipping in Stevenage – there are penalties for this crime.”

The current fine is £300 for fly-tipping in Stevenage, and the council say it is "actively looking to take action against fly-tippers".

A spokeswoman added: "We have CCTV in certain hot spots which is monitored regularly. If residents are getting their waste removed by a third party they need to ensure they’re checking for a valid waste carrier’s licence or they face being prosecuted under the Duty of Care Act.

"With the Weston Road Cemetery incident, we searched the rubbish and found information linking the perpetrator to the vehicle and we fined them on the back of this evidence.

"Businesses should not be using the recycling banks for commercial waste, these are for residents only."