Councils in Kent have been told to review how they use a law designed primarily to combat terrorism in their investigations into offences such as fly-tipping and rogue traders.

The call comes after it emerged how councils across the country were using the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) to carry out covert surveillance during investigations into a range of suspected offences.

~ How our councils are 'snooping' on us >>>

Now the leader of the Local Government Association, Sir Simon Milton has urged councils to review how they use the law amid concerns that it amounts to a "snoopers' charter".

He said residents were concerned that the powers were being used in ways they were not designed to. But Kent County Council says the powers are only used when necessary.

In a statement, KCC deputy leader Cllr Alex King said: "We welcome Sir Simon Milton's comments and support his views that these methods should only be used for targeting crime.

"In the crackdown on illegal activities such as rogue trading, flytipping, selling of counterfeit goods and those which scam people of vast amounts of money or pose a danger to them, we use covert surveillance to identify those breaking the law and seek to prosecute them.

"These practices are used only when necessary and are carried out under strictly regulated circumstances."