A CLAMPDOWN on fly-tipping in York has rid the city's alleyways of rubbish - and slashed the number of complaints from fed-up residents.

Since the council's new Streetscene service was launched in the west of the city in early December, a dedicated enforcement officer has patrolled the streets, backed up by a team of staff armed with wheelbarrows and brushes.

Now the back lane off Leeman Road, once a notorious dumping hotspot, is near-spotless Russell Stone, Streetscene manager for City of York Council, said: "Some residential areas have problems with fly-tipping because individuals dump unwanted goods in back lanes in the belief that refuse collectors will take them away.

"This is actually illegal fly-tipping. Bulky items like electrical goods, furniture and building waste should be disposed of properly by whoever produces it."

Following the launch of Streetscene, officers have been knocking on doors in problem areas to raise awareness of fly-tipping and remind residents how to dispose of waste properly. They have also pledged to take formal enforcement action if necessary.

Meanwhile, long-term problem areas have been cleaned up with a view to keeping them permanently tidy.

The council says its strategy is paying off, reducing the number of complaints about fly-tipping by half in the areas where the team is operating.

It is part of a wider revamp of the city's street cleaning services. Another scheme, revealed in The Press, involved officers rummaging through bin bags that have been left out too early to find personal details of the offender.

As reported last month, a tiny spy camera, which cost £10,000, has been deployed to spot fly-tippers, litter louts and vandals - although it has only been used four times in a year.

Part of the fly-tipping problem, according to the council, are some rogue door-to-door refuse collection services.

Council project officer Jackie Armitage said: "We would not recommend that anyone uses a man with a van'-type refuse collection service, because there are people out there who illegally dispose of the rubbish that they collect.

"Anyone who receives a call from a door-to-door service should ask them for proof of registration for waste transfer. If their charges seem too good to be true, then they probably are - and your waste could end up being fly-tipped."

Any waste that cannot be disposed of in a bin or bin bag should be taken to one of the council's three household waste recycling centres at Beckfield Lane, Towthorpe and Hazel Court. The council also offers a collection service for up to ten bulky items at once for a small charge.

For more information, phone the York Pride action line on 01904 551551 or visit the council's website, which is www.york.gov.uk