NORTH Ayrshire Council issued the most fines for fly-tipping in Scotland last year.

The council handed out 201 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) in 2022-23, more than any other local authority in the country.

This is despite receiving fewer reports of fly-tipping than Glasgow City Council, which issued the second-highest number of fines at 126.

Councillor Tony Gurney, cabinet member for green environment and economy, said: "The fact that we are the top local authority in Scotland for catching offenders despite having fewer reported cases is testament to the ongoing hard work from our Streetscene team in Neighbourhood Services.

"I hope this serves as a warning to anyone who is tempted to illegally dump their rubbish to do the right thing and dispose of it responsibly."

The council is warning fly-tippers that they are very likely to get caught and may have to pay a fine and clean-up costs.

Anyone who dumps rubbish illegally on land, including streets, country lanes, and beaches, risks a £500 penalty plus a minimum fee of £114 for the council's Streetscene team to dispose of their items responsibly.

Fly-tipping is also an offence under the Antisocial Behaviour Act 2004, and anyone who commits an offence could be referred to the council's Antisocial Behaviour Team.

Failure to pay a fixed penalty can result in action by sheriff officers or the procurator fiscal.

If prosecuted, offenders may face a jail term and a £40,000 fine. Vehicles used to carry out the crime can be seized and destroyed.

The council encourages the public to report issues, including illegally dumped litter in public areas, to help tackle the problem.