An investigation has been launched after a tipper lorry dumped a huge mound of soil in a recycling layby.

Specialist CCTV cameras picked up the offender leaving the waste in New Barn Road, Longfield.

It happened last Tuesday, November 7, between 8.30pm and 10pm.

WasteWatch Cam ANPR technology was installed at the hotspot in 2021 to crack down on fly-tipping following its success elsewhere in the borough.

Unlike other surveillance cameras, these can not only detect the car or person on-site and what they are discarding but can identify the offender in real-time.

This data is then raised as an instant alert, with all the supporting details, passed to an enforcement team.

According to its creator, Kingdom Systems the new tech, which makes use of number plate recognition, ensures the individual is "held accountable".

Although the cameras did capture the incident in New Barn, Dartford council’s enforcement team is appealing for any dashcam footage that shows the tipper lorry travelling to the site and away from it towards the A2 which will aid in the investigation.

Pictures show a huge pile of soil with bricks, wood and other items, which has been fly-tipped outside the bottle bank which also has a sign alerting people to the cameras.

A spokeswoman for the council said: “Not only do these incidents cost the taxpayer money, they also impact the local environment, with waste leaching into the ground.

“This is why Dartford council investigates all reports of such crimes and reviews what actions can be taken to keep the local environment safe.”

If you have any information or footage, you can contact the local authority on 01322 343434 and ask for the environmental enforcement team.