A FLY tipper was caught red handed after surveillance was installed to protect a Hyndburn beauty spot.

Hyndburn Council have revealed the images from hidden CCTV cameras which caught an Oswaldtwistle man in the act of dumping garden waste.

The pictures were used to prosecute 28-year-old Albert Smith, of Blackburn Road, who was filmed driving a tipper van up Coach Road in Oswaldtwistle.

The cameras recorded him tipping a large amount of tree cuttings and garden waste onto the road and then driving off.

Smith, who pleaded guilty, was given a three year conditional discharge and ordered to pay over £200 in fines and costs.

The cameras were installed in a bid to solve long running problems as the area is a magnet for fly tipping.

Hyndburn Council is also looking to erect barriers in the area near Foxhill Bank to prevent access from unauthorised vans.

Coun Clare Pritchard, cabinet member for environmental issues, said:”The coach road has suffered from repeated fly tipping over the years so we are working with residents to see if we can get gates installed there to stop this kind of anti social behaviour.

“We are determined to crack down on fly tippers and people who dump rubbish. Using CCTV cameras at our rubbish hotspots is part of this.

“Others who think it’s OK to blight our towns and countryside like this should beware - we will catch you and take you to court.”