The fine has been increased to £50

Deputy Environment Minister Allan Wilson announced the extra cash on a visit to Lanarkshire.

The money will be given to the Scottish Fly-tipping Forum to help tackle the problem of illegally dumped rubbish.

Fly-tipping costs Scotland's councils about £2.5m every year.

However, the Scottish Executive wants offenders to clean up their act.

Ministers have already doubled on-the-spot fines for litter louts.

Fly-tipping is unsightly, potentially dangerous and harms our environment Allan Wilson Deputy Environment Minister

The £50 penalty brings Scotland into line with England and Wales.

Proposed anti-social behaviour legislation suggests giving local authorities more powers to clamp down on individual and corporate fly-tippers.

Now the additional £250,000, which was spare at the end of the financial year, is being allocated to address the problem.

Mr Wilson said: "Fly-tipping is unsightly, potentially dangerous and harms our environment. Furthermore, it is against the law.

"The Scottish Executive is determined to tackle all forms of anti-social behaviour and this money will go some way towards helping tackle what is becoming a bigger and bigger social problem.