Two successful prosecutions have kickstarted a crackdown on flytipping on Canvey.

The problem has been rife on the island in recent months, with Canvey West Marsh Nature Reserve falling victim to unwanted waste on a number of different occasions this summer.

And now two residents have been successfully prosecuted by Castle Point Council – and ordered to pay fines totalling £2,600.

One resident of St Christopher’s Close, Canvey, received a fine and costs totalling £2,100 for flytipping waste in a disused garage on the island. While a Western Esplanade resident was fined £400 after he was caught on CCTV flytipping waste on Charfleets Industrial Estate. Oddly, neither were named by the council.

Canvey mayor, and member of the Canvey Island Independent Party, John Anderson, said: “I would like to think this is the start of a real crackdown on flytipping.

“I have seen numerous reports in the Echo, and heard of the frustrations over at the marsh site.

“If the flytippers are being seen and being prosecuted, it can only be good news.

“It is a blot on the landscape and it is not fair on everyone else who uses tips and disposes of their waste correctly.

“If Castle Point have caught up with the people responsible, I am sure they are determined to prosecute, as they should be.

“It costs the taxpayer money every time the council have to send someone out to collect waste.

“I am very pleased to hear of the successful prosecution, and I hope they are determined to follow through with this and continue to prosecute.”

Just last month the Echo revealed a wildlife reserve is planning to step up its security after tons of rubbish was dumped there.

Flytippers dumped a mountain of waste on the land at RSPB Canvey West Marshes, near to Canvey Road and Ray Howard, councillor for waste, said it was probably around “three or four lorry loads”.

Mr Howard insists Castle Point Council will continue to prosecute anyone found flytipping - and come down on those caught as hard as it possibly can.

He said: “The council will continue to investigate all flytipping that blights Canvey, and the borough of Castle Point as a whole, and where evidence is found will look to prosecute the culprit using the extensive powers available to us.

“It is important for the cleanliness of the borough that we deal with those who flytip and these two prosecutions show that Castle Point Council will not hesitate to prosecute anyone found fly tipping.”