Oldham Council have used new powers to seize a vehicle suspected as being used for flytipping.

A neighbourhood officer spotted a white van being used to dump rubbish in Oldham in July but when he approached the driver ran away with a female passenger and child.

The van was found to be packed with waste and was seized through new legislation which came into force in April this year.

The vehicle can be kept for up to 15 working days and the owner needs to provide evidence of ownership to claim it back.

If it is not claimed the council can sell or dispose of the vehicle.

Cllr Barbara Brownridge, Oldham's cabinet member for neighbourhoods and cooperatives, said: 'This new legislation is making it easier for the council to search and seize vehicles suspected of waste crime.

'We understand that we're one of the first councils in the country to use these powers and we will continue to do so in our zero-tolerance approach towards fly-tipping.'