Secret “spy in the sky” cameras are planned to catch hundreds of flytippers at hotspots around Stafford.

The tiny, specially designed cameras are set to be installed at various sites in the borough to help prosecute people who illegally dump their unwanted goods.

Proposals are the latest element of a high profile campaign to stop littering in Stafford.

On-the-spot fines for people littering the streets came into force last month and motorists who throw rubbish from their vehicles have also been targeted in the crackdown.

Nearly 300 incidents of flytipping have been reported to the borough council this year – slightly less than over the same period in 2006.

A number of warning letters have already been issued to people suspected of illegal tipping.

Now council bosses hope the introduction of the hidden cameras will help reduce the number of incidents, as well as helping to gather evidence to prosecute offenders.

Phil Gammon, head of the council’s Streetscene service, warned that flytippers faced jail or a maximum fine of £50,000.

He said: “We are hoping to have the cameras operational very soon. They will provide a deterrent to would-be flytippers – and can give valuable evidence to prosecute those who dump their rubbish illegally.”

The council spends around £1 million of local taxpayers’ money every year keeping the borough clean – including removing fly-tipped items and graffiti and keeping streets tidy.

As part of the litter-busting campaign, hard-hitting posters have gone up around the borough warning people they face a £75 fine for dropping rubbish.

Streetscene officers are also going into schools in the area to spread the anti-litter message.

Stafford Borough Council leader Councillor Judith Dalgarno said: “People take a lot of pride in their environment and do not want the area spoiled by others treating it as a giant dustbin.

“A lot of time and money is spent keeping the borough clean and tidy, and we are determined to ensure it is not ruined by a small minority.”

Anyone wanting to report incidents of fly-tipping or littering can go to the Streetscene pages of the council’s website at www.staffordbc.gov.uk, e-mail contactcentre@staffordbc.gov.uk, phone 01785 619000 or text 07781 471023.

In June this year, the Environment Agency and local authorities in Staffordshire teamed up in a new partnership to tackle fly-tipping.

The new Staffordshire Fly-tipping Forum was set up to tackle “waste crime”, sharing ideas on how to investigate the problem and bring the culprits to book.

There were 7,874 fly-tipping incidents in Staffordshire in 2006, costing nearly £400,000 to clean up.