COUNCIL leaflets urging people not to litter, fly-tip, graffiti or commit other types of “enviro crime” have been found dumped in a Walthamstow street.

Boxes containing leaflets with details of the “Wipe Out” campaign, as well as copies of WFM (pictured) were spotted in Edinburgh Road, Walthamstow, by resident Matt Taylor, of Walthamstow Village.

Student teacher Mr Taylor, 34, noticed the ‘rubbish’ lying on a pavement which, if dumped by a member of the public, could have led to £50,000 fine or five years in prison.

He said: “I would guess they’d been there for a couple of days. They looked quite damp and curled up."

He added that he made the discovery at about 9.30am and said it was unlikely they had only been left there that morning.

Mr Taylor’s photos also show litter which has accumulated near Queen’s Road Station.

“There’s a big problem with litter along there - it gets dumped in the bushes all the time,” he said.

However, cabinet member for enivironment Cllr Bob Belam claimed the leaflets and copies of WFM were left in the road between 8am and 8.30am as “part of the distribution process”.

He added that they were subsequently delivered to people’s homes in spite of what Mr Taylor described as their “tatty appearance”.

Cllr Belam said: “These items were picked up and delivered door to door as they were expected to be. Our distribution company has also visited the location to check this is the case.

"We are delighted a sharp eyed member of the public was concerned about fly tipping in his road and although this was not an incident of fly-tipping we want to work with residents, schools, businesses to make Waltham Forest a better borough and stop the thoughtless minority spoiling our environment for everyone.

"Everyone has a role to play in tackling these issues. They can do that by telling us who is responsible for wrecking our borough’s environment."