SUSPECTED fly-tippers have been stopped and searched by council officers as part of a crackdown on waste offences.

City of York Council worked alongside North Yorkshire Police to stop and check 23 vehicles as part of Operation Eyeball to tackle fly-tipping.

Of the 23 cars and vans stopped, 17 were issued with notices to provide their licences to carry and dispose of waste. Investigations will start on a number of other possible offences.

Superintendent Paula Booth, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "This operation shows that the selfish crime of fly-tipping will not be tolerated in our communities. There will be no let-up in our efforts, and we will continue to work closely with landowners and local authorities, sharing intelligence and information, to tackle this issue head-on. Members of the public are a vital part of this campaign, acting as our 'eyes and ears'. If you find or witness fly-tipping, wherever it is, record as many details about the incident and the waste as you can, and report it to your local authority or via the gov.uk website."

Report fly-tipping by visiting york.gov.uk/FlyTipping or call 01904 551551.