This is the moment a van seized as part of a council's fight against fly-tipping was crushed.

The vehicle was impounded during an operation by Swale council's environmental enforcement officers and the Kent Police Rural Task Force.

The van being squashed in a giant crusher

It was taken from outside its owner's home in James Street, Sheerness, in June as part of the crackdown and crushed last week.

Officers believe it was used to dupe residents into thinking they were having their household waste disposed of legally by a trader who was using a waste carrier licence that potentially belonged to somebody else.

The year-long investigation is still ongoing as officers continue to collect statements from customers. Asbestos guttering and downpipes dumped by the canal in Maple Street, Sheerness, provided additional evidence.

The van's owner had 15 days to reclaim his vehicle but the council says no documents of ownership were provided. As the white van could not be sold by the recovery yard to reclaim expenses because of its age and condition it was decontaminated and crushed by Bobbing Car Breakers.

Cllr Tim Valentine, cabinet member for the environment, said: "This is a win for the residents who were misled into thinking they were disposing of their household waste responsibly.

“We are still investigating this case but thanks to written statements from residents and our officer’s enquiries we were able to seize a vehicle believed to be involved with alleged waste offences."

He added: “We have sympathy for the residents who believed they were doing the right thing and acting responsibly by using what they thought to be a licensed waste carrier and are grateful for their help in providing the evidence we needed to investigate these incidents."

He said: “We want to remind anyone carrying waste in a vehicle without the relevant licence, or using a vehicle to fly-tip, that the vehicle could be seized at any time.

“We’re serious about cracking down on fly-tipping and will continue to work together with police and residents to stop the criminals that ruin our towns and countryside.”

For information about fly-tipping and what the council is doing, visit www.swale.gov.uk/fly-tipping .

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