Thanet District Council has hit out at flytippers after an area was cleared, only for more waste to be dumped just hours later.

The council's new Environmental Action Team had cleared the dumped items in Cliftonville as part of a new scheme in the area.

In a Facebook post today, the council said: "Did you see the culprits? #crimenottocare

"Our new Environmental Action Team is hard at work in Cliftonville... but just hours after clearing this area, they were faced with even more fly-tipped waste!"

It also urged locals to report anyone they see dumping their waste irresponsibly, by emailing streetscene.enforcement@thanet.gov.uk or calling 01843 577000.

The original waste was cleared yesterday morning, and by the time the environmental services manager went to inspect the area after being notified by his teams that all work had been completed, it had been re-fly-tipped within those few hours.

It was due to be re-cleared again this morning.

Cllr Lin Fairbrass, deputy leader and cabinet member for community services, said: “Our new Environmental Action Team has been working hard in Cliftonville since it launched on 4 September and has made a considerable difference to the street scene there.

"It’s therefore incredibly disappointing to see people who continue to be irresponsible with their waste.

"Part of the Action Team’s work includes educating residents about their responsibilities for their waste and we will continue to look at ways to effectively communicate these messages to try and stop this happening in the future.

“Our street scene enforcement officers, who have been specifically assigned to the action team, will be investigating this illegally dumped waste, and could land those responsible with a fixed penalty notice of £400.”

Since its launch on Monday, September 4, the Cliftonville Environmental Action Team has collected and disposed of around 4.5 tonnes of waste from the alleys of Cliftonville West (zone 1).

The team was formed by TDC to concentrate on litter, cleanliness, waste and fly-tipping issues which affect the street scene in Cliftonville West.

Speaking when the team was set up Cllr Lin Fairbrass said: “What’s important about this initiative and why it is focussing on Cliftonville, is unfortunately the majority of issues associated with illegally dumped waste and litter come from within this residential footprint, so the team will also be educating residents on how to be more responsible with their waste.”