More than 11,000 fly-tipping cases have blighted the Bucks countryside over the past half-decade – costing the taxpayer millions of pounds in clean-up costs.

Figures obtained from Bucks County Council (BCC) following a Freedrom of Information request state there were 11,524 recorded fly-tipping incidents across the county from 2013 to 2017 – or six cases a day on average.

Wycombe District is the worst-affected area in Bucks after thoughtless fly-tippers illegally dumped waste a staggering 3,699 times over the five-year period.

Managing director at Chiltern Rangers, John Shaw, said the rising rate of fly-tipping will pose even more of a threat to wildlife across the county, and added there is “no excuse” for abandoning rubbish.

He said: “Attitudes to our children's planet need to change - we cannot keep treating woods and rivers as rubbish dumps.

“Litter, such as pointless plastics, lasts for years and threatens wildlife from snails to hedgehogs who suffer a slow, painful death by entrapment.

“Broken glass and other sharp materials cuts the paws of dogs when walking. If foodstuff is dumped then rats become a problem too.

“The facilities exist to recycle and dispose of waste properly. We have a fortnightly collection from the front door, there is no excuse to dump waste of any sort in our otherwise beautiful Chilterns countryside and urban green areas.”

The number of cases has significantly increased in recent years – with 2,845 incidents recorded in 2017 compared with 1,747 in 2013.

However according to BCC it is "impossible" to say exactly how many cases there are, are as people often add more waste to existing piles.

Clearing up the waste comes at a huge cost to the cash-strapped council - as £500,000 of taxpayers' money is spent per year on removing illegally dumped rubbish.

Council planning chief Bill Chapple said BCC has a “zero-tolerance” policy towards fly-tipping, and one offender per week on average has been convicted for the offence over the last eight years.

He said: “Fly-tipped waste spoils the beauty of the Buckinghamshire countryside, but it can also be a hazard on the highway, contaminate the environment and cause a danger to wildlife.

“We use surveillance cameras at fly-tipping ‘hot-spots’, providing evidence for prosecution and a 24/7 deterrent against illegal dumping.

“A conviction means the offender has to pay a hefty fine and gets a criminal record.

“On average over the last eight years more than one offender has been convicted per week for these offences in Buckinghamshire resulting in fines and costs totalling £918,000”.