The task force swooped on illegally dumped bags of rubbish last Monday and examined the contents to identify the perpetrators.

The action kicks off this year's national spring clean campaign.

Trade waste officers then visited the businesses identified to ensure that proper arrangements for disposal of waste are made in future.

Unlike domestic properties, the removal of trade refuse from business premises is not covered by the business rate. Instead, traders are required by law to have their waste properly collected and disposed of by an authorised carrier.

National spring clean is an annual event promoted nationally by the Tidy Britain Group and supported locally by Croydon Council.

During the campaign - which runs until the end of this month - schools, businesses, residents' groups and youth organisations will be sprucing up school grounds, parks, woods, nature areas, alleyways and open spaces across the borough.

The council's recycling officer, Elaine Morgan, said: "National spring clean aims to encourage everyone to do their bit to clean up their area and to keep it clean.

"Illegal dumping by businesses leads to increased litter as well as being a target for foxes, unsightly and a hazard to the visually impaired. It also incurs a huge expense for council taxpayers in cleaning up. Last year council staff organised a successful pilot project in central Croydon and we hope that this initiative in Norbury will lead to similar improvements there."