A VAN used to dump mattresses in Great Horton has been seized after being found in a Silsden car park.

The vehicle had been caught fly-tipping on CCTV, but Council officers were unable to find the van until parking wardens noticed it parking illegally.

The owner now faces a grilling under caution and the van could be crushed.

Officers from Bradford Council’s Environmental Enforcement Team had received numerous reports of the white transit van dumping waste on a back street off Beldon Road.

One resident had CCTV footage that showed someone taking mattresses out of the van before dumping them on the street. 

Initial investigations were carried out, but the whereabouts of the van couldn’t be traced.

Details of the vehicle were then passed on to the Council’s Parking Services and its CCTV Team, as well as the police to assist in locating the van.

Whilst on patrol, Bradford Council parking wardens spotted the van parked illegally on Halifax Road in Keighley.

Keighley's Neighbourhood Policing Team and the Council’s Environmental Enforcement Officers were notified to help seize the vehicle. 

The vehicle was subsequently stopped by police in the car park of the Co-op store in Silsden, where it was seized by the Council’s Environmental Enforcement Team.

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “This is yet another example of our collaborative working across the district and with West Yorkshire Police in seizing this and other vehicles involved in this environmental crime, we are taking action against those who seek to blight our neighbourhoods with this type of illegal activity.

“Investigations are ongoing and the vehicle owner is due to be interviewed shortly.

“If the vehicle is found not to be roadworthy or have any resale value it will be crushed.”

A recent report by Bradford Council revealed that 5,186 tonnes of fly-tipped waste and litter were collected by the authority last year.

Despite this, the figure was down by 9.5 per cent from the previous year.

Dealing with fly-tipping costs the taxpayer between £200,000 and £300,000 on average each year.

The Council spokesman added: “Anyone who sees fly-tipping taking place is asked to note down as many details as possible, including times and dates and vehicle registration numbers and location and inform the Council.

“For more information, or if you witness fly-tipping taking place and have information or CCTV footage, visit the Council’s website www.bradford.gov.uk or telephone 01274 431000.”