Almost 300 reports of fly-tipping incidents have diverted resources from vital Covid-19 work.

Allerdale Borough Council’s street cleaning partner Tivoli has been praised for its fantastic work and dedication during the coronavirus pandemic.

In March and April there were almost 300 fly-tipping reports made to the council with a further 182 incidents of littering.

This has all come at a time when councils and other agencies have been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus and worked hard to maintain as many services as possible.

Thankful for the work put in, Tony Markley, the council’s executive member for environmental services, said: “The work of the Tivoli crew has been nothing short of incredible.

“Fly-tipping is a blight on our communities and has no place. It’s illegal, unsightly and diverts resources away from dealing with other issues, particularly battling the coronavirus.

“I’d urge people not to dump their rubbish but to store it safely at home until it’s safe.”