Figures obtained by the County Gazette in a Freedom of Information request show that between April 1, 2016, and March 31, 2017, 671 reports were made across the Taunton Deane district.

Flytipping is when waste is illegally dumped on private or council-owned land in a bid to avoid paying for waste disposal at approved sites.

The council says that although the crime is difficult to prevent, especially with the number of countryside lanes, Taunton Deane has one of the lowest numbers in Somerset.

A spokesman for Taunton Deane Borough Council, said: “The number of incidents in the Taunton Deane area is among the lowest in Somerset.

“It is clearly a hard crime to prevent, and it can prove difficult to get cases to court, given the quiet lanes and back alleys of our countryside and towns, and the level of proof required for convictions.

“While councils, the Environment Agency, the police and other agencies do their very best to combat this crime, a key step is for every individual and business to fulfil their legal “duty of care” over their waste and defend themselves against flytippers such as rogue tradespeople, dodgy man-and-van operators and people offering to do “tip-runs”.

The most common fly-tipping hot spots around the Taunton Deane area:

1. Cats Lane, Cheddon Fitzpaine

2. Whitmore Lane, Taunton

3. Duke Street, Taunton

4. Corfe Road, Taunton

5. Cheddon Road, Taunton

6. St Patricks Road, Taunton

7. Laxton Road, Taunton

“Anyone who takes waste away for money needs a waste carrier licence, and must dispose of the waste correctly.”

The figures reveal that within the district, the most common areas outside the town centre include Cheddon Fitzpaine, Corfe and Bradford-on-Tone.

The council spokesman added: “The advice is clear: never pay cash, always demand a detailed receipt, record details of the people and vehicles taking waste, and require the waste carrier to send back a copy of the waste transfer note.

“Be particularly alert to Facebook flytippers, who use the anonymity of social media to prey on others, commit crimes, and then despoil our beautiful countryside.

“If you know someone who fly-tips, or see it in action, stay safe, take notes, touch nothing and report it to TDBC as soon as possible.

“There is no excuse for fly-tipping, and we must never make common cause with criminals or offer them comfort by suggesting there is any justification for this offence.”