UNDERCOVER grime-busters have been called in to help catch fly-tippers red-handed.

A four-strong Environment Agency team - sporting camouflage gear and long-lens cameras - has been staking out a Golcar beauty-spot to trap dumpers.

Large-scale tipping has recently blighted the pretty wooded area off Britannia Road.

This morning a burned-out car, piles of tyres and discarded wood made the glade a sorry sight.

The problems became particularly bad in the run-up Christmas.

Huge piles of tyres, as well as household and commercial waste, were costing Kirklees Council thousands of pounds to clean up.

As a last resort, the special enforcement team was called in to mount the sophisticated surveillance operation over a weekend.

Paul Glasby was one of the officers who kept watch on the secluded spot.

Unfortunately, no-one dumped any rubbish over that rain-swept weekend. But the team is continuing operations.

"We were incredibly unlucky, but we are still going to keep an eye on that site," said Mr Glasby.

Anyone seen dumping rubbish can expect a fine of up to £20,000 or a maximum six-month prison sentence.

The amount of rubbish indicates systematic tipping.

"Someone may be running a business collecting small items of waste and, after the last collection of the day, they drop it off there at teatime," said Mr Glasby

Early evening and weekends are peak times for illegal dumpers.

Mr Glasby asked the public to help, saying: "We need the public to report any dumping of this type, so we can bring those responsible to book."

Clr David Payne, Kirklees Cabinet member responsible for the environment and transport, condemned the tippers. He said: "It is a very small number of people who spoil the environment for everybody else.

"I hope local people will help the agency and the council to catch fly-tippers."

Dumping can be reported to the Environment Agency on its 0800 80 70 60 hotline.