THE first cash reward for helping to prosecute a fly-tipper has been handed to a local businessman.

Keith Strang, of KB Carpets, in The Sidings, Leytonstone, was given a reward of £150 by the authority after providing evidence leading to the prosecution of the owners of a clothing store.

It is the first time the council has paid out through its conviction reward scheme, which was launched in August.

The scheme is aimed at encouraging people to report crime such as fly tipping, graffiti, littering and dog fouling and rewards can be between £100 and £500.

Mr Strang spotted a white van on CCTV, driving into The Sidings at 11pm on August 26.

A large quantity of rubbish was dumped before the van driver made off.

Enforcement officers examined the waste and the CCTV footage, finding letters relating to Riz & Saf Ltd, a clothing store based in Kingsland High Street, Dalston.

The owners of the company were visited and accepted responsibility for the fly tipping.

They pleaded guilty at Waltham Forest Magistrates’ Court on November 26 to unlawful deposit of controlled waste and were fined £250 as well as being ordered to pay £660 a £15 victim surcharge.

Waltham Forest Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Enforcement and Protection, Cllr Afzal Akram, said: “We want residents and businesses to help us keep this borough clean and I’m delighted this public spirited gentleman came forward and provided details to us which enabled a successful prosecution.

“We are determined to stamp out environmental crime and the Conviction Reward Scheme is a way of encouraging people to be our eyes and ears and help us to track down the people who are determined to wreck our borough.”