A fly tipper who dumped his rubbish in Epping Forest has been fined.

Doni Marku, of Bycullah Road, Enfield was convicted on November 10 at Southend Magistrates court.

A carpet and black rubbish bags were found in a layby on Jack's Hill in May last year. Marku was fined £880 and was ordered to pay the compensation to the City of London Corporation, which protects the woodland.

The corporation has reported that illegal flying tipping in Epping Forest has increased by more than 50 per cent during the first national lockdown - with 192 offences recorded between January and April.

Items that were dumped in the area included furniture, general household items and garden waste that had been dumped mostly at the roadside.

It also reported that over the last five years, 73 people have been ordered to pay out of a total of £32,689 for flytipping in the area.

Each year, between 600 and 800 fly tips are cleared from land in Epping Forest.

Chairman of the City of London Corporation's Epping Forest and Commons Committee, Graeme Doshi-Smith said: "This year Epping Forest has arguably been more important than ever before, and we will do everything in our power to protect it.

"Fly tipping is an appalling crime which damages the environment and wastes funds that could be better used to support the site. This prosecution sends a clear message that we will not tolerate fly tipping.

"We will take legal action against anyone who dumps waste on Forest land and I urge the public to report suspicious activity on 020 8532 1010."