CCTV cameras have been placed in a Darwen street that is a hot-spot for fly-tipping.

They have been attached to lampposts in Olive Lane in a bid to catch people who are dumping household items.

Councillors have said that this is now a ‘necessary’ move to try to address a long-standing problem in the area.

Cllr Jane Oates, who represents the Sudell ward on Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “There has been so much fly-tipping and contamination of bins in the area it’s time to take action.

“It’s been happening for years more than months.

“It’s definitely a problem area for dumping litter.

“It’s constant and happening all the time. We’ve taken all kinds of precautions to try to stop it in the past.”

Several cameras have been placed on the road, with accompanying signs warning residents that the CCTV is in operation.

The footage will be reviewed in offices to try to identify fly-tippers.

The scheme is currently in the pilot stage but the cameras can be moved around the borough.

Costs of removing the rubbish dumped by fly-tipping has also been highlighted by the council.

Cllr Eileen Entwistle, who also represents the ward, has said that the street is a particular problem area for rubbish problems.

She said: “It’s very important to put these cameras in, it’s costing us a fortune, people are just dumping in the street.

“People are doing the wrong thing with bins, they’re contaminating them with the wrong rubbish which means they can’t be collected. It’s a shame for people who are recycling properly.

“It is a problem affecting a lot of areas across the borough, but in Sudell it is really, really bad. It’s probably the worst area for it in Darwen.”

Blackburn with Darwen Council has warned that there will be punishments if anyone is caught by the cameras.

A spokeswoman said: “If caught on camera, there is a fixed penalty notice of £400.

“If this is not paid, people will have to attend court where the fines can go up to £50,000 or even a custodial sentence of up to five years.”

Anyone who sees fly-tipping can all 01254 585921.