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East Suffolk Council is asking people in Lowestoft to help identify businesses illegally dumping garden waste in residential areas.

The authority said large quantities of wood chippings had been dumped on council-owned land in the town over the past year.

Nine incidents have been reported, including woodchips being fly-tipped in Blackheath Road, Laxfield Way and Walmer Road.

Anyone found guilty of commercial fly-tipping faces an unlimited fine or up to five years in prison.

''We want to identify who is responsible for repeatedly dumping woodchips in a residential area, with no thought for the people who live there,'' a council spokesperson said.

''There are specific places for properly disposing of garden waste and woodchips, and any reputable business will be aware of how to dispose of waste correctly, and the associated costs.''

The authority said the incidents were happening regularly, and it urged residents to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity and report anything that could identify the culprits.

The council said the scale of the fly-tipping suggested it was being done by a business or businesses.

Each incident has been cleared by East Suffolk Services, the council's commercial arm, and the authority said it was ''time consuming and expensive'' and was taking staff away from work such as waste collections and street cleaning.

“Residents have a responsibility to ensure their household and garden waste is disposed of properly, and if you arrange for someone else to remove waste from your home on your behalf, you must keep details of this person or business," the council said.

''If your waste is found fly-tipped and you are unable to provide details about who took it away, then unfortunately you will be held responsible and you may have to pay a considerable fine.

"It is therefore important to keep a note of the name, business name or vehicle registration of anyone removing waste from your home or garden.''

Trade waste can be disposed of at any recycling centre, and can be collected by arrangement with .

Anyone with information that can identify those responsible for the fly-tipping is asked to contact East Suffolk Council.