DUDLEY borough has been listed as the worst place in the country for flytipping in a recently published survey.

The report, compiled by AnyJunk, requested information from 316 councils in England under the Freedom of Information Act about incidents, costs and prosecutions of fly tipping on public land during a 12 month period.

The report states the borough is the worst council for a year on year increase, recording a 491 per cent rise in fly tipping incidents compared to the previous year – with 4,830 incidents in 2011 / 2012 compared to 817 in 2010 / 2011.

However Dudley Council’s officers have refuted the report, saying fly tipping numbers are in fact decreasing in the borough and claimed incorrect information had been sent out following the FOI request.

Councillor Tracy Wood, cabinet member for environment and culture, said: "The 2012 figures include low level incidents of littering reported on our housing land, which were not included the previous year, and therefore cannot be treated as an increase because it is not like for like information.”

Dudley Council has revealed the correct numbers should be 745 incidents in 2011 / 2012 – a decrease of 72 incidents from the following year.

Cllr Wood added: "Clearly, any fly-tipping is unacceptable and the council takes measures to catch and prosecute offenders who illegally dump rubbish in the borough. It not only causes an eye sore, but leaves the tax payer with a bill for other people's mess. Any incidents of fly-tipping should be reported to us on 0300 555 2345."