FLY-TIPPERS had better watch out - 110 people were prosecuted by Burnley Council for the offence last year.

And figures just released show that anyone illegally dumping waste in Burnley is more likely to be prosecuted than anywhere else in Lancashire.

The authority also issued 124 fixed penalty notices and 1,378 warning letters to tackle the problem.

The statistics, from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), put Burnley top of the table for Lancashire for the number of successful prosecutions.

No prosecutions were logged in Rossendale, Ribble Valley, South Ribble, Fylde or in Wyre.

There were five successful prosecutions in Preston and Pendle, 17 in Hyndburn and 36 in Blackburn with Darwen.

Solicitor Jonathan Jackson, who is leading the crackdown on fly-tippers in Burnley, said: "Ourselves and Grimsby are the two most effective and efficient units.

"Unlike other authorities, we have dedicated solicitors who are embedded in with the environment team.

"Our offices are close together so they don't have to send off files.

"I speak to them every day to discuss cases and advice them on gathering evidence."

There were 32,373 incidents across Lancashire between March 2009 and April 2010 compared to 47,675 in 2006/07.

Mr Jackson thinks other authorities should follow Burnley's 'pro -active' approach.

He said: "After speaking to other officers, they don't realise we have this multi-agency team.

"I think some councils don't report incidents. It is also about political will."

One of the biggest challenges facing councils is tracking down absentee landlords, he added.

"I am amazed at the number of people in the South East of England who own properties in Burnley.

"Ninety per cent of them have never been to Burnley.

"We spend in excess of £75,000 a year cleaning up back yards and we are trying to recoup the money.

"Landlords will call us up saying 'why are you taking me to court, it's not my rubbish'.

"But they have a responsibility to these properties in the bad times and the good.

"They can't take the rents and then complain when the council tells them to keep their yards clean.

"I think landlords realise we have some bite behind the bark.

"In the days of old they got a fixed penalty from the council and they would just throw it in the bin.

"They thought we'd forgotten the paperwork, or just wouldn't bother.

"But now if you get a fixed penalty from the council and if you don't pay it, I will start legal proceedings."