COUNCIL enforcement offic- ers have taken part in a joint operation with the police aimed at tackling illegal scrap collectors, fly tippers and metal thieves in the Forest of Dean.

Council officers from both the environmental health and street warden services helped stop and search vehicles carrying waste in the operation in the past week.

Waste carrier licenses and transfer notes were checked to see if the drivers were operating legally.

One of the commercial drivers stopped was found to be collecting and transporting waste illegally. Investigations are ongoing.

The council's group manager for environmental services Roger Garbett said: "Illegal scrap collectors and waste carriers can be a problem when they collect mixed waste, keep the metals to sell on, but fly tip the rest. We believe that metal theft, illegal scrap dealers and fly tipping are connected problems.

"As well as having to be registered, all transporters of commercial waste must have documentation to explain what the waste they're carrying is, and where it came from.

If they don't comply with these requirements, they can be prosecuted or issued with £300 fixed penalty notices.