Medway is the fly-tipping blackspot of the county, according to latest figures.

There were 3,525 call-outs to incidents of rubbish being dumped across the Towns over the last municipal year.

Robin Edwards, the south east regional director of the Country Landowners’ Association, said that fly-tipping was causing enormous harm to the environment as well as costing a fortune to clean up.

He said: “It’s a widespread problem over the whole of Kent and is having a big impact on the public purse.”

Mr Edwards added that one of the worrying elements was the dumping of asbestos, with 152 cases recorded.

He said: “That can be hugely damaging, both to health and environment. For example if abandoned in a farmer’s field, it could result in an entire crop being destroyed.”

Swale had the second highest with 2,610 and Dartford was third with 2,366.

In contrast Tonbridge and Malling had only 507 incidents.

Mr Edwards said the problem was two-fold. There are unscrupulous traders who collect waste for a fee but dump it in back alleys, public footpaths or even in the middle of roads rather than disposing of it properly. In other instances, householders have driven to a tip to find it closed and just left refuse in a lay-by .

Mr Edwards said: “If you pay a waste carrier to take your rubbish away, ask to see his licence and his waste transfer certificate - all bona fide operators will have one.

“Many people do not realise that you are still responsible for your waste, even if you have paid someone to collect it.

“So if it’s dumped, you could end up with the £5,000 fine.”

With a million fly-tips across the country, Mr Edwards said it was time for the authorities to get tough and prosecute more.

Medway’s population is larger than other local authority areas and is likely to have higher rates of fly-tipping.

Residents can dispose of domestic waste for free at household waste and recycling centres in Capstone, Gillingham and Cuxton.

Cllr Jane Chitty, Medway Council’s portfolio holder covering enforcement, said: “Fly-tipping is not tolerated in Medway.

“When fly-tipping incidents are reported to us we remove the waste as quickly as possible.

“We also proactively remove waste which has been fly-tipped.

“In 2017/18 we attended 3,525 reports of fly-tipping across Medway and removed the waste. “We thoroughly investigate each fly-tipping incident and prosecute offenders, where possible. Medway Council prosecuted 12 people in court and issued 62 fixed penalty notices to the offenders of environmental crimes, such as littering.”

You can report fly-tipping at www.medway.gov.uk/flytipping