First fines issued as fly camper crackdown starts

The council said officers had issued two £100 fines in the Buttermere area

A council tackling so-called fly campers has issued its first fines using Public Space Protection Orders.

Last month Cumberland Council said it would use the orders to crackdown on people leaving human waste, litter, lighting fires and equipment while camping in the Lake District.

The council said officers had issued two £100 fines in the Buttermere area in connection to breaching the order.

It added officers spoke to "numerous individuals to remind them about the importance of being responsible and respectful in our outdoor spaces".

The National Trust previously said it spent about £1,000 repairing a single site that was damaged by campers last year.

Although wild camping is not permitted in the Lake District without the landowners' permission, the Lake District National Park Authority said it was normally tolerated if people abided by a number of rules, including camping above the highest fell wall and leaving no trace they were there.

Cumberland Council said it was keen to engage with and educate the public around wild camping, but it would now be issuing fixed penalty notices of up to £100 when required.