Rat infested mattresses and battered old sofas are some of the thousands of items the council had to remove from the streets and the number is increasing.

During the last financial year the environmental team removed 6,986 items which had been fly tipped on our streets, up by almost 2,000 on the previous year.

Fly tipping was by far the most frequent call out for the team but they also had to deal with a range of problems including racist graffiti and abandoned vehicles.

Russell Ward, head of environmental services, and his team of nine officers cover the entire borough which is home to more than a quarter of a million people.

Last year they responded to 14,594 call outs.

He gave a presentation about the council’s environment department Street Scene at the area six committee meting held at Redbridge Central Library, Clements Road, Ilford on Wednesday.

Mr Ward said; “We have 10 CCTV cameras deployed across the borough. Six are in area six and we are monitoring various areas to try and capture the offenders. Local people are dumping in their own area.”

He said his team have been speaking to individuals and have been approaching landlords to try and improve the situation.

Mr Ward said: “When you engage with your neighbour it’s amazing how quickly it improves. There are areas that I think we need to focus on like fly tipping, we need to look at an education campaign.”

Overall Clementswood had the highest level of fly tipping in Redbridge followed by Loxford and Mayfield

One of the worst roads for fly tipping in the borough last year was Woodlands Road, Ilford which had 124 call outs.

Other frequent problems were dog fouling causing 745 call outs, littering with 1,292 and untidy land with 903.

To report fly tipping, or any other environmental issues, call the council on 020 8554 5000, email at customer.cc@redbridge.gov.uk or through their website www.redbridge.gov.uk,