SURVEILLANCE techniques may be put into force to catch illegal fly-tippers whose rubbish is closing off a York bridleway to riders and walkers and costing the council thousands of pounds a year.

Maureen West, of Cemetery Road, York, has complained to City of York Council about the problem in Outgang Lane, York, part of a mile-long stretch joining Bad Bargain Lane which has long been blighted by fly-tipping.

She said: "It is sometimes impossible to use the path because as soon as the council open it up people start tipping again. It was cleaned up three weeks ago, but I went down last Thursday and it was blocked again with tree cuttings. It is used as a dump and it has cost the council contractors thousands of pounds."

Mrs West believes travellers from the nearby site may be to blame and is pushing for the council to act, especially considering Jack Straw's recent advice to councils to crack down on antisocial behaviour from travellers.

But while the council said that possibility was being investigated, it claimed there were likely to be other culprits as well.

The people of Osbaldwick and Murton have formed an action group, the Friends of Bad Bargain Lane, to keep the mile-long stretch free of rubbish. Bollards were also installed by the council after a petition signed by 471 residents.

Stewart Grieve, client services manager for City of York Council, said: "Steps have been taken to block off access by putting concrete pillars and concrete blocks in the way and a crash barrier-style blockage at the other end.

"The amount that is being dumped has reduced as a result of these measures, but it mounts up in a different place and blocks the lane quicker now.

"We try to inspect it every couple of weeks and clear it as and when it is needed.

"We are investigating who might be responsible."

Mr Grieve said the problem cost the council £12,500 last year. He said the council would be consulting the Environment Agency on the type of surveillance techniques which could be used to catch the dumpers.

He said: "The type of material that's being dumped there includes toilet pans, builders' waste and household waste, but we need to find out who is doing this before we can take any enforcement action."