FLY-TIPPERS could be in for a nasty surprise once lockdown restrictions ease due to an increase in evidence from people stuck at home.

A number of residents and councillors have reported incidents of fly-tipping in recent months, some which have been shared on social media.

St Helens Council has confirmed that it has not seen a significant increase in actual cases during the lockdown.

However, in the first three weeks of the lockdown, reports from the public jumped by more than a quarter, although there are “early indications” reports are falling following the reopening of the borough’s household waste centres.

A spokesman for St Helens Council said: “We have not seen a significant increase in cases of fly-tipping in St Helens, but reports of fly-tipping increased by around 26 per cent to 304 reports during the first three weeks of lockdown, from a monthly average of 240 reports in 2019/20.

“Note that many of these will be duplicate reports.

“We attribute the increased reporting to the fact that more people are at home during the day, travelling at different times, or are out taking their daily exercise in their neighbourhoods where they might not normally.

“Indeed, this has led to us receiving more first-hand evidence from eye-witnesses, CCTV and through verbal statements over the phone than in normal times.

“We are still actively investigating cases and removing fly-tipped waste on public land in a safe manner.

“Enforcement is still going on and fly-tippers run the risk of fines or the courts.

“Once lockdown restrictions ease, we will be able to deliver a number of fixed penalty notices, or otherwise look to prosecute offenders.”

Elsewhere in the country, there have been reports of people falling foul to rouge waste carriers who are paid to dispose of household waste, only to dump it illegally.

It is a criminal offence to pass your waste to someone without doing the necessary checks and if your waste ends up being fly-tipped you could end up with a fine or even taken to court.

The council said residents should only use approved and registered waste carriers “or face the consequences”, saying a “zero tolerance approach” will be taken.

Members of the public have been told to be wary of adverts for such services on social media.

The council said it is also carrying out widespread checks on businesses to inspect waste transfer documentation.

If businesses fail to provide documentary evidence, the council said they will be fined and, where necessary, prosecuted.

Residents are being asked to continue to report fly-tipping online or through the council’s Contact Centre.

Alternatively, call 01744 676789 or visit www.sthelens.gov.uk/reportaproblem