Two arrests have been made after 20 tonnes of waste was fly-tipped at an industrial estate. 

Staffordshire Police said that the waste was deposited by a stolen HGV which arrived at Imperial Works, Coalpit Hill in Talke on Wednesday 29 October. 

Two days later (Friday 31 October), the vehicle was spotted in the area again and was stopped while in the process of depositing a further 20 tonnes of waste. 

Staffordshire Police attended the scene and two people were arrested in the area a short time later. 

A 43-year-old man, of Kent, was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle and causing the deposition, without an environmental permit, of controlled waste on land 

He has been placed on police bail while inquiries by Staffordshire Police continue. 

A 19-year-old woman was also arrested and has since been released with no further action to be taken. 

A 43-year-old man has been arrested and placed on bail while inquiries continue (image via Staffordshire Police)

Inspector Joel Hurst, of Newcastle local policing team, said: "This was a brazen flouting of the law which protects our environment from the harm that fly-tipping causes to our local communities. 

"We are committed to doing all we can to prevent the illegal depositing of waste, working with our partners and the local community to protect them from the impact of fly-tipping." 

Staffordshire Police has said they will work with the Environment Agency, Newcastle Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council as inquiries continue. 

Neil Burgess, environmental crime team leader at the Environment Agency, said: "Environmental permits are in place to protect the public and environment and illegal waste dumping such as this impacts on local communities. 

"We are determined to tackle waste crime that is blighting our communities and will continue to work with our partners to take action against those suspected of being involved." 

David Hutchison, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council's cabinet member for sustainable environment, said: "We have been aware of the situation at a private commercial property in Talke, and it's pleasing to see good cooperation over the issue between the different agencies involved."