Basildon Council's hidden cameras catch people dumping waste

Waste has been incorrectly disposed of by residents under new rules introduced by Basildon Council, the authority says

Seventy-three people have been fined as a result of cameras hidden in trees to catch people incorrectly disposing of waste, a leading councillor has said.

People living in the Basildon borough, in Essex, have had to split their rubbish into six different sections under rules introduced in November.

Conservative Kevin Blake said he wanted to "throw everything" at people who broke the rules.

Residents have criticised the use of the cameras.

Mr Blake, who is responsible for the environment at Basildon Council, told BBC Essex: "We've had enough of the education and I think we've really got to come a hell of a lot more down on the actual enforcement."

A total of 73 people have been fined and, coincidentally, another 73 people have been issued with "educational reminders", Mr Blake added.

Fixed penalty notices from Basildon Council for littering can rise to £500.

Emelike Nwosu, left, said the use of hidden cameras was a "horrible invasion of privacy"

The use of covert cameras split opinion among residents when they were approached by the BBC.

Emelike Nwosu, 47, said they were a "horrible invasion of privacy" for those who had abided by the new waste collection rules.

"If they were emptying the bins more regularly, people wouldn't feel the need to want to hide rubbish or put things in the wrong place," he said.

However, Andy Price, 69, said he fully supported the camera initiative being used where he lived on the Chalvedon estate in Basildon.

"Our estate has become like a dumping tip for every van you see," he added.

"If you've got a society that doesn't care, you've got to do something about it."

Jackie Vickers, 54, said the scheme was "a bit Big Brother".