A RECORD number of calls were made to a national fly-tipping hotline from the Borders last year.

Since the Dumb Dumpers phone line was launched a decade ago there has been a regular couple of calls each month.

But during 2018 the number of reports jumped from 19 the previous year to 43.

Although anonymous calls to the 0845 230 4090 number are only a fraction of reported incidents, it highlights a continuing trend of illegal dumping that isn't going away.

During the first operation year of the hotline in 2010, there were 24 calls from the Borders.

And the annual number of reports from the region has remained in the high teens and low 20s until last year.

Anyone who witnesses illegal fly-tipping in the Borders has three reporting options - Dumb Dumpers, Scottish Borders Council on 0300 100 1800, or the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency on 01896 754797.

Scottish Borders Council figures show that 2017 was their busiest year for reports, receiving 653 calls.