A FLY-tipper has paid the price for thinking they could dump waste in Thurrock with their lorry being crushed.

The lorry was traced to an address in Brenan Road, Tilbury, after it was caught on camera dumping waste in The Lawns, East Tilbury, last October. Officers confiscated the lorry in January.

Last week it was crushed after the owner failed to claim the vehicle.

Cllr Victoria Holloway, Cabinet member for Place and the Environment, said: "This should serve as a warning to anyone who thinks it is okay to use Thurrock as a dumping ground for their waste.

"We investigate all fly-tips, and when evidence is found, action is taken to hold those responsible to account.

"There is no possibility that the driver of this lorry will ever be able to use it to dump waste again.

"Fly-tipping is a selfish and criminal act, each year we have to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds to clear up the waste that illegally dumped in the borough.

"It is completely unacceptable and we will always seek to hold those that break the law to account."

In the last 12 months Thurrock Council has issued 223 Fixed Penalty Notices in relation to fly-tipping offences.

The to report fly-tipping visit council website at: thurrock.gov.uk/fly-tipping.