High technology Smart Water identification developed by a Telford firm is being used by a council in Britain for the first time to catch fly-tippers.

The colourless liquid, which contains a unique chemical code is usually used to deter thieves and burglars by marking valuables, but Southampton City Council will now use it to stop the dumping of rubbish.

Smart Water Technology Ltd makes the liquid, which it calls a forensic security system, at its factory in Telford.

In joint operations with the police in Southampton, suspected fly-tippers have been stopped and the contents of their vehicles searched and sprayed.

The council is also going around the city spraying items like sofas and mattresses left in gardens.

If they are then dumped on the streets the culprits can be traced with the technology boasting a 100 per cent conviction rate, the authority said.

City councillor Matt Dean said: “We’re pleased to be leading the way with the use of innovative means of snaring illegal fly-tippers.

“The city council provides many free and legal ways for disposing of waste. Mindlessly dumping rubbish on the side of the road or in our green spaces is lazy and selfish and it will not be tolerated. And now we have an even better chance of identifying the culprits.

“It is not fair that the law abiding majority should have to pay to clear up after a selfish minority.”

Southampton does not have a bigger problem than other similar cities but a large student population does mean more items of furniture end up on the streets, a spokesman explained.

On its website, the firm said a six-month property marking initiative using Smart Water in the Milton area of Sittingbourne in Kent saw a 94 per cent reduction in burglaries.

By Lisa Rowley