Fly-tippers, graffiti artists and litter louts are costing Walsall taxpayers almost £2 million a year, it emerged today.

The council has now launched a major year-long campaign to clean up the streets.

Around 30 tons of waste – including fridges, carpets, gas clylinders, builders’ rubble and garden soil – is dropped illegally every week, some of it in the borough’s prettiest sites, say council bosses.

Now they are urging residents to report anyone spotted dumping rubbish or defacing public property in a bid to slash waste bills.

Fly-tipping, which cost householders £85,500 over the past year, is the focus of the first month of the crackdown.

Other problems to be covered include litter, which costs £1.6m a year, graffiti, costing £73,000, abandoned vehicles costs £33,500, and fly-posting £15,000.

The worst-hit areas for fly-tipping included Barr Beacon, Cartbridge Lane South and Slacky Lane, near Pelsall.