A fly-tipper who dumped rotten mattresses, garden waste and even a toilet in a Kent town centre has been caught – after chucking away their personal details!

Council street wardens who were called to clean up the waste in Hare Street, Sheerness, found evidence among the junk and linked it to a property in the area.

The perpetrator was tracked down and told to clear up the mess themselves.

Cllr Steve Worrall, a former borough mayor who reported the waste to Swale council, said: "It's unattractive and just rotten. It makes your stomach turn over – that's how bad it is."

Nina Clancy, manager of the Lighthouse Coffee Shop in the nearby Hope Street Centre, said fly-tipping has been an ongoing problem in the area and businesses are worried it will attract rats and mice.

"We're trying to keep it nice round here," she said.

"It doesn't look very good for people who are coming in to our car park if the first thing they see is the eyesore of all that rubbish.

"There's always people that make it horrible for everyone else. It's a real mess."

A Swale council spokesman said that all offences of fly-tipping are taken seriously and legal action can be taken against offenders.

If found guilty, fly-tippers can be fined up to £50,000 and given a custodial sentence.

• To report fly-tipping, phone Swale council's customer services on 01795 417580 or visit the council's website.