HIDDEN cameras could be placed at fly-tipping hotspots across Hampshire as civic chiefs step up the fight against illegal dumpers.

The county council is to trial the covert devices after receiving a £3,000 grant from the Rural Delivery Budget.

If successful, the council says it could be rolled-out countywide.

The New Forest is blighted by fly-tipping, with reports it was happening almost every week of the year in 2017.

The news of hidden cameras comes as part of Hampshire County Council's illegal dumping crackdown, which included the appointment of a new £50,000pa fly-tipping chief, Gareth Roberts.

Speaking about punishing those caught, he said: “We are starting to build a better picture as to how much it costs the local authority for every fly-tipping event.

“We want to make sure that the fine fits the crime.”

The latest fly-tipping figures, which have yet to be verified by the Environment Agency, are due to be published in November.