Two men have been made to pay nearly £3,000 between them for fly-tipping waste at the same spot in separate incidents, just two days apart.

Both were caught on covert cameras put in place by Test Valley Borough Council near Newbury Hill, Charlton.

On November 15 last year, 68-year-old Raymond Harvey, dumped chain-link fencing after claiming it was ‘too difficult’ to book an appointment at the Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Two days later, Jack Herbert, 26, fly-tipped a wheelbarrow-load of turf in the same spot after ‘doing a friend a favour’ in getting rid of the waste.

After being made aware of both fly-tips, TVBC officers began investigations, leading to Mr Harvey and Mr Herbert both having their cases heard at Basingstoke Magistrates Court on Tuesday, March 22.

Mr Harvey had initially denied the offence, saying the fencing was already there when he arrived, but was then shown the images from the camera and admitted the fence was from his garden.

Mr Harvey, of Ridges View, Little London, Andover, was fined £691, ordered to pay a £69 victim surcharge, and £768 in costs, totalling £1,528.

Mr Herbert, of The Green, Overton, was fined £583, ordered to pay a £58 victim surcharge, and £705 costs, totalling £1,346.

Portfolio holder, councillor Nick Adams-King, said: “There is no excuse for fly-tipping, and it being too difficult to book an appointment to dispose of waste properly certainly doesn’t cut it. The system is incredibly simple to use and is free for Hampshire residents.

“Instead, taxpayers had to initially pay for the cost of clearing up this waste because it was more convenient for one of these defendants. That’s why I’m delighted that our officers have managed to find the people responsible for these two cases, and ensure the heavy cost lies firmly with them.”

Covert cameras are placed throughout the borough and are regularly moved to catch as many fly-tippers as possible.