FLY-TIPPING continues to blight rural landscapes in East Lindsey, with more than 1,000 reports received last year.

Figures released to the Target through the Freedom Of Information Act show East Lindsey District Council acted on 1,155 reports of fly-tipping across the district last year, almost 600 of which were on the east coast.

The figures also reveal the estimated cost the authority spent in clearing the waste up.

In 2009-2010, figures calculated using standard costs defined by the Environment Agency showed £59,414 was spent. Throughout 2010 until this February, £48,000 was spent.

In the east coast area, general household waste was the most commonly dumped item, with 192 reports made.

This was closely followed by black bags with 91 cases, followed by tyres, with 72 reports.

Despite households having wheelie bins for green waste, the authority also dealt with 27 incidents of green waste fly- tipping along the coastal strip.

Other items dumped included electrical items, construction waste, white goods such as fridges, vehicle parts, commercial waste, chemical drums, oil and fuel, and asbestos.

Particularly high numbers of fly tipping reports were received for Well Vale car park in Chapel St Leonards and Bambers Farm wind farm, near Mablethorpe.

A spokesman for East Lindsey District Council said the authority always tries to track down offenders to take enforcement action.

He said: "Fly-tipping is irresponsible, unsightly, unacceptable and costly to every tax payer in East Lindsey.

"Each year, the district council spends thousands of pounds clearing up after people who dispose of their waste in this irresponsible manner – money that could be better spent on delivering other important services to our community."

The Countryside Alliance said fly-tipping is a problem for all landowners. Spokesman Jill Grieve said: "Fly-tipping is a selfish act which is bad for the environment, farm animals and livestock.

"The alliance would like to see councils across the country make it easier for people to dispose of waste such as by having dumps open for longer as well as being tougher on people who persistently fly-tip."

If you see someone fly-tipping or to report waste, call 0800 1955228.