DISGUISED mobile spy-cameras will be deployed this week to catch flytippers as a council ‘declares war’ on illegal rubbish dumpers.

Several of the miniaturised devices have been bought for £20,000 to tackle a mounting problem in back alleys and green spaces.

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Earlier this month senior councillors branded the recent flytipping epidemic in Blackburn with Darwen the worst ever.

Now borough environment boss Jim Smith has backed up his promise of a tough new strategy to tackle the ‘animals’ that dump rubbish by buying the latest technology to track down the perpetrators.

He revealed the move as Sudell Liberal Democrat Roy Davies and Fernhurst Tory Jacquie Slater revealed a new spate of incidents in their wards.

Cllr Smith said: “We are aware of the problem and have bought covert CCTV cameras to put in back alleys.

“We know where the hot spots are and we will catch those responsible, take them to court and fine them.”

The latest incidents include building rubbish and bags dumped near Goose House Lane and Richmond Terrace in Darwen and on Greenbank Terrace in Fernhurst, where a car chassis was dumped behind a roadside wall.

Last night Cllr Smith gave further details of the radical first stage of ‘declaring war’ on flytippers who face fines running into hundreds and even thousands of pounds if convicted.

He told the Lancashire Telegraph: “I have just spent £20,000 on several CCTV cameras which will be delivered on Wednesday and deployed in known hotspots immediately.

“They are the very latest, tiny, miniaturised devices and will be hidden in back alleys and other areas where flytipping takes place.

“The spy cameras can be disguised as fence posts, cans, pots and even bricks so those responsible won’t know when they are being watched.

“We are declaring war on flytipping and this proven technology will catch the ‘animals’ responsible with penalties running into hundreds and even thousands of pounds.

“When we have assessed the results, I am looking at buying more as part of a radical package of measures being developed to step up the campaign to hopefully eradicate flytipping from our streets, back alleys and open spaces.

“It is unsightly, ruins neighbourhoods for residents, and costs large sums to clear up and dispose of.

“We know the hotspots and will move the cameras around places like Sudell, Mill Hill, Bastwell, Ewood and Little Harwood without warning.

“I appeal to residents to tell borough officials or their councillors if they suspect who is responsible or where rubbish may be tipped so we have the intelligence we need to make this new crackdown work.”

Cllr Davies said: “I welcome this latest technology although it is a little late.

“Flytipping in the borough, especially in Sudell, is the worst it’s ever been.

“Just this week there have been loads of rubbish dumped on Richmond Terrace and on Goose House Lane, where it is ruining a beauty spot for dog walkers and polluting the stream.

“The only way to stop it is to catch and fine those responsible.”

Cllr Jacquie Slater said: “The council is doing the right thing.

“Flytipping is the worst I’ve know it in the borough and this new technology should tackle it.

“We’ve three incidents in Fernhurst in the last month, including a car chassis dumped behind a wall on Greenbank Terrace.”

Earlier this month her son John, the borough Tory group leader, and his Liberal Democrat counterpart David Foster warned flytipping in Blackburn and Darwen had reached record levels.