FLY-tippers who dumped rubbish in the countryside near Chippenham could land up in court after papers with names and addresses were found in the pile.

The Environment Agency is now investigating the evidence after a member of the public discovered the heap of cardboard boxes and papers on a country lane between Nettleton and The Gibb.

"We will examine all the evidence," said Geoff Carlill, speaking for the environment agency.

"We make lots of prosecutions. If it is controlled waste, from a company or business, and we find it dumped somewhere and can identify the company, that is all we need to make a prosecution because the business has not lived up to its duty of care to dispose of waste.

"If it is a private householder it is harder, because we have to ask them how it got there and people may deny all knowledge.

"In that case we have to have a witness or we can't do anything more."

A passer-by spotted the rubbish and reported it to Wiltshire County Council, which in turn contacted the district council.

A district council spokesman said they had discovered information in the rubbish that could indicate who had dumped it.

The district council and the Environment Agency are encouraging the public to report fly-tipping and have set up a hotline number on 0800 807060.

As many people are reluctant to make witness statements about fly-tipping, the Environment Agency is also using hidden surveillance cameras at fly- tipping hot spots to capture fly- tippers on film.

The district council spokesman said: "Fly tipping is a serious offence and anyone caught and successfully prosecuted can face fines of up to £20,000 and up to six months in prison.

"Fly tippers caught dumping hazardous waste can be jailed for up to five years.

"The police also have powers to seize any vehicles used for fly- tipping."