SOUTH Bucks District Council launched an operation last week in conjunction with police to clampdown on illegal fly-tipping.

Operation Grouch took place across the district on January 24, between 7am and noon.

The operation was a multi-agency collaboration involving South Bucks District Council, Buckinghamshire County Council, local police, Amersham Traffic Unit, HM Customs and Excise, County Council Environmental Officers and representatives from South Bucks District Council.

PC Andy Wayland of Amersham Traffic Unit said that numerous vehicles had been stopped during the operation.

He added: "We stopped these lorries in order to ascertain where they were going to tip their waste."

He said some of the lorries were found to be overweight, which would lead to prosecutions.

Other lorries were found to be carrying green diesel duty-free diesel from Ireland which is illegal in this country and these were dealt with by HM Customs and Excise.

PC Wayland added: "Other vehicles were found to have defects and we stopped them from proceeding.

"We did not find any people fly-tipping, but the goal of the operation was to get the message across to lorry drivers that we are monitoring their activities carefully."

Jenny Woolveridge, vice-chairman of the environment and housing committee of South Bucks District Council, said: "There is a huge problem with people fly-tipping in the district."

"Any strategy that helps improve the situation in South Bucks has to be welcomed."