A SUSPECTED fly-tipper's van has got stuck in the mud this afternoon.

The grey Renault van was spotted in a field behind Spiers Meadow, off Jersey Close in Popley, this afternoon, with a large pile of building waste strewn near the back of the van.

The van was abandoned when the Gazette visited the scene, and bogged down in the muddy field.

Building waste including rubble and bits of plastic, as well as other items like a mop and a wellington boot were also left in the pile nearby the van.

The van has seemingly been abandoned, with both the passenger cabin door and the side door left open with no one around.

Basingstoke Gazette:

The field, which is behind the housing development at Spiers Meadow, backs onto Basing Wood, which is looked after by Forestry England.

A nearby resident said that he saw the van struggling to dig itself out of the soft ground this afternoon, before police attended.

A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said that there had been no call from the public on the incident, but that the officers may have stumbled upon it whilst on patrol.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council had previously promised a "zero tolerance approach" to fly-tipping after three people were fined in court earlier this month.

Cabinet member for environment and enforcement Cllr Hayley Eachus said: “Fly-tipping is a crime that carries a maximum of five years imprisonment at Crown Court, it is also costly if you are caught.

"We take a zero tolerance approach to fly-tipping and will prosecute where there is evidence to do so. Since May 2018 we have convicted 21 individuals or companies for fly-tipping offences and we will continue this work.”