THE Countryside Alliance is waging war against fly-tippers in a tough new campaign.

The group is highlighting the increasing problem, which it says costs the taxpayer thousands.

Alison Hawes, CSA South West regional director said: "Many people believe that fly-tipping is something they can get away with and that the victim is faceless. This is nonsense.

If you fly-tip on private land the owner gets the stress and the bill for clearing it up. If you fly-tip on public land the taxpayer gets the bill and in both instances it is breaking the law."

The Westcountry has one of the best recycling records in the country, but still people are dumping waste anywhere they choose.

The CSA, which campaigns for the preservation of country life, is urging people to take responsibility for unwanted rubbish - rather than dumping it. The group is backing National Fly-tipping Awareness Week, starting today, with its own campaign, Fly-tipping - Scrap it.

According to a report published by the group, the number of fly-tipping incidents is on the increase with more than 14,500 in the Westcountry, at a cost of more than £800,000 in the year ending April 2006.

The cost to Devon is in excess of £335,000, in Cornwall it is more than £200,000 and in Somerset, £286,000. Nationally the picture is no better with 2.5million incidents of unlawful rubbish dumping across the UK recorded in the same time.

Ms Hawes said: "The cost to local authorities was £100 million, yet less than one in 100 cases led to a prosecution." Cornwall County Council's executive member for the environment, Adam Paynter, said it was difficult to prosecute fly-tippers. He explained: "Unless you actually catch them in the act it is virtually impossible to prove who was responsible. Unless there is something identifying the culprit we are powerless."

In Devon, among the top recycling counties in the country, there is still a problem. Devon County Council's executive member for the environment, Margaret Rogers, said: "Not only is fly-tipping illegal, it also ruins our beautiful countryside. People need to learn to deal with their waste responsibly, it is a loathsome habit