While fly tipping is usually seen as a rural issue new figures show the scale of the problem in built up areas is growing.

Dartford recorded the eighth highest number of incidents on residential land in the country in 2016/17, the most recent figures show.

In total the council received 280 reports of rubbish being dumped near homes across the course of the year, just 119 fewer than Birmingham.

However it wasn't the worst performing district in the county, with Thanet's 524 reports placing it 10th on a list which was topped by Bradford (852) and also featured Brighton (517).

Company Sellhousefast.uk compiled the data from Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs figures, which showed £57.7 million was spent nationally on fighting the problem in the 12 months to last April.

Two thirds of incidents in that period involved household waste, an 8% rise on the previous year.

Robby du Toit, managing director of Sellhousefast, said: “Household rubbish, white goods and garden waste are among the most frequently fly-tipped items.

"It is so important for homeowners to dispose of their unwanted items responsibly. It’s a shared task and perhaps, more needs to be done to encourage individuals to recycle. Services need to expose more clearly where relevant help and information can be found.”

For the past few years Dartford has consistently been the worst borough in Kent for recycling rates.

In 2016/17 only 25.2% of waste was recycled and the year before just 25.6%. These figures make it by far the worst area of the county and one of seven so-called red zones in the south east, where the rate is under 30%.

But council leader Jeremy Kite (Con) said he did not think the problems could be linked and that instead the borough's proximity to the M25 led to a high number of people coming from elsewhere to dump waste.

He added: "We offer people the opportunity to recycle. I don't think criminal behaviour can be excused by saying recycling facilities are lacking.

"We have come down hard on flytippers and clean up the rubbish fast. We were the first authority to up fines to £400 and pursue offenders through the courts. Eventually the message will get across."

He said he acknowledged more could be done and the council will continue to work with [ councils on projects like CCTV installation.

But opposition leader Jonathon Hawkes (Lab) thinks the borough's appalling record with recycling was a big part of the problem.

He said: "The more difficult it is to dispose of rubbish the more likely fly tipping will occur. The council needs to take this more seriously.

"Quite clearly through actions and results this council does not value recycling."