Crackdown on illegal bonfires in County Durham

Council bosses in County Durham are joining forces with police and fire chiefs to stop people holding illegal bonfires in the run up to 5 November.

Durham County Council wants to be alerted to illegal rubbish piles on public land so they can be dismantled.

Known hot spot areas will to be regularly patrolled in an effort to quickly identify anti-social behaviour.

Anyone caught building a bonfire could land an £80 fine for flytipping. The crackdown will be launched on Monday.

A spokeswoman for the county council said: "As well as being a direct danger to the public, deliberate and nuisance fires are a drain on the fire service's resources and can divert crews from potentially life-threatening work elsewhere."