An investigation has been launched to trace professional fly-tippers - and the people who paid them to get rid of their waste – after video footage showed a vanload of rubbish being dumped on a housing estate.

A witness was able to film the fly-tippers as they dumped the waste in front of a set of garages on an estate close to Bedford Hill, Balham.

Wednesday’s footage shows waste being casually dumped from the back of a tipper truck. An examination of the fly-tip has revealed a link to a home in Croydon.

Now Wandsworth Council staff say they are hot on the tracks of the van and its occupants as well as the Croydon householder whose rubbish was dumped.

If traced they could all face prosecution. The maximum penalty that can be imposed by the courts following conviction for a serious flytip offence is an unlimited fine and/or a prison sentence of up to five years.

Wandsworth’s director of environment and community services Paul Chadwick said: “This video shows just what councils are up against when it comes to professional fly-tippers.

“Unfortunately this is a crime that is on the rise and causing problems for councils up and down the country.

“Householders are delighted when someone offers them a low-cost option to get rid of their waste – and they don’t think they’re doing anything wrong – but in reality they are committing an offence for which they could face serious legal sanctions as well as getting a criminal record.”

Anyone with information about rubbish being dumped should telephone (020) 8871 6396. All calls will be treated in confidence. Information can also be submitted via flytipwitness@wandsworth.gov.uk