Council bosses say they have sent out a clear message to flytippers after two people were fined for illegally dumping their rubbish in the Halstead district.

Gavin Cooper, of Beazley End, and Donna Loveridge, 31, from Ridgewell, both admitted to flytipping offences when appearing in court last week.

Cooper was ordered to pay a £500 fine and £1084 in costs and a victim surcharge, while Loveridge was fined £320, ordered to pay costs of £561.

Both were also ordered to pay a victim surcharge.

Following the successful prosecutions, Braintree Council's cabinet member for environment and place, Wendy Schmitt, has warned legal action will be taken against anyone caught flytipping.

She said: “Fly-tipping is simply not acceptable – it not only harms the environment and looks unsightly, but it costs the taxpayer to clear it up.

"We need the public to understand their rubbish is their responsibility and they must dispose of it correctly.

"I hope successful prosecutions like these send out a clear message that we take fly-tipping extremely seriously and are not afraid to take legal action against those who don’t do the right thing with their waste, who ruin our environment and have no respect for others."

Anyone wishing to report a fly-tip in the Braintree district is asked to report it to the council by calling 01376 552525 or visiting the website at www.braintree.gov.uk/flytipping.