A blatant fly tipper was caught in the act by surveillance cameras dumping a mattress on the verge at Wexham Lane, Slough.

Lewis Day, 29 , of Crispin Way, Hillingdon, was caught out after enforcement officers from Buckinghamshire County Council set up the cameras, because of a growing problem with people dumping unwanted rubbish on the site.

On July 24 the cameras captured images of Mr Day unloading a mattress onto the verge. He was traced via the registration of his vehicle and interviewed about the incident.

He pleased guilty at Wycombe Magistrates Court to the offence of fly tipping. He said he had been on the way to dispose of his mattress in the skip at his employer's premises, when he realised that the straps holding it onto his roof rack were becoming loose. When he stopped to readjust the straps, he noticed there was rubbish dumped on the verge so he decided he would add his mattress to the rubbish already there. He apologised to the court for his behaviour.

In recognition of his his early guilty plea, Mr Day's fine was reduced to £1,752. He was also required to pay £1,020 costs and a victim surcharge of £170, making a total to pay of £2,942.

South Bucks District Council Cabinet member for the environment Luisa Sullivan, speaking on behalf of the Waste Partnership for Buckinghamshire, said: "This case again demonstrates the vital role of surveillance cameras in bringing fly tippers to justice. The locations and positioning of the cameras are constantly being changed, so anyone who fly tips should be aware that they could well receive a request to come for interview."

Since 2003 the Waste Partnership has secured over 740 convictions against individuals and companies for illegal dumping and related offences, leading to fines and costs being imposed against offenders totalling over £1 million.

Report fly-tipping in Buckinghamshire at www.fixmystreet.buckscc.gov.uk