BRADFORD Council has taken to social media to help identify illegal waste carriers.

It teamed up with the West Yorkshire Police Operation Steerside team to catch a business linked to several cases of fly-tipping across the district.

When efforts to trace the registered keeper of a van which had been seen being used to dump waste at a number of locations were unsuccessful, officers turned to social media to contact the business and make arrangements for a waste collection.

As the van arrived to collect the waste, it was stopped by police and seized by the council.

Investigations are ongoing.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s executive member for healthy people and places, says: "Use of social media is another tactic for us against fly-tippers and it should serve as a warning to those who offer waste collection services and then illegally dump it."

Householders have a legal duty of care to ensure any waste collection companies they use are registered.

People can view a register of licensed waste carriers at environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers.

Anyone who sees fly-tipping taking place is asked to note as many details as possible, including the vehicle registration number, and inform the council via bradford.gov.uk or 01274 431000.