Fly-tippers dump tonnes of household waste on farms in Puckeridge, Buntingford and Barley – and Hertfordshire police commissioner picks up the clear-up bill

Rubbish was removed from two East Herts farms for free after fly-tippers targeted the land.

They were cleared using money from a £20,000 annual fund set up by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire David Lloyd.

The sites in Buntingford and Puckeridge were blighted by tonnes of shredded household waste, as were farms in Barley, North Herts, and Little Berkhamsted.

The landowners used the scheme, set up in 2018, to cover the overall £10,600 cost of clearing the sites.

Hertfordshire Constabulary has been made aware of the incidents, which the Environment Agency is investigating.

Mr Lloyd said: “All 10 district and borough councils across Herts have joined the scheme. This shows how committed all parties are to tackling fly-tipping.

“Fly-tipping is one of the crimes I hear about most from the public. It blights the countryside and causes substantial costs for farmers and landowners to clear the waste and poses a danger to road users, livestock and wildlife. It spoils the enjoyment of the countryside for all.

“I don’t believe it is fair that farmers and landowners are left to pick up a bill which can run into thousands of pounds because someone else has fly-tipped on their property.”