A woman accused of fly-tipping around a hundred boxes and household waste outside a tower block has been fined hundreds of pounds.

Renee Babayemi, of St Francis Avenue, Gravesend, was slapped with a £500 fine for the offence at The Hive, Northfleet.

The 38-year-old was due to appear before Sevenoaks Magistrates on March 3 but failed to attend the hearing.

In her absence she was found guilty of failing to provide documentation related to the fly-tipping offence.

The activity was uncovered following a investigation by Gravesham council’s environmental enforcement team.

Around a hundred boxes and other household waste was uncovered fly-tipped outside the tower block.

The authority said she had failed to cooperate with the investigation or provide documentation to officers when required to do so.

Babayemi was fined £500 by the court and required to pay costs of £257.30, bringing the total penalty to £757.30.

Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox, Gravesham council’s cabinet member for community and leisure, said: “We will not tolerate fly-tipping in Gravesham and will continue to catch, fine and take action against those that fly-tip and dump their rubbish in our borough.

"Please report it to us if you see rubbish dumped in your area and we will investigate it and make sure that those responsible are held accountable.”

You can report fly-tipping in Gravesham by clicking here.

To report sightings or details of a vehicle/ person that you have witnessed fly-tipping email Tipoff@gravesham.gov.uk

If a person or a business has rubbish to dispose of it is the individual’s or the business’s responsibility to get rid of that rubbish and waste properly.

Sometimes unlawful traders take rubbish for a small fee and then just dump it.

Only businesses that are registered to carry waste can take away rubbish.

Anyone that is visited by a door-to-door rubbish collector or chooses to use a trader should ask if they are a registered waste carrier and ask for their waste carrier number.

Make sure the trader is registered or both the trader and the person whose rubbish it is will face a fine if it is dumped illegally.

To conduct a quick check visit the Environment Agency website by clicking here to see if the trader is registered.

If they're not you should find other ways to get rid of your rubbish.