Today the Oxford Mail reveals the extent of rubbish dumped on your doorstep - but it is just the tip of the iceberg.

In the past year Oxford City Council has investigated and removed waste or warned residents in 158 incidents across the city.

Council officers have been alerted to barrels of acid dumped in a road, furniture left in residential streets and 49 cases of people dumping household rubbish to rot on the pavement days before the refuse collection.

The list and map, which can be viewed here, secured following a Freedom of Information request, shows the worst places for fly-tipping and illegal rubbish dumping in Oxford.

The hotspots for investigations are Thomson Terrace in Littlemore, followed by George Street in the city centre, Kelburne Road in Iffley, Circus Street in East Oxford, and Little Bury in Greater Leys.

But recent figures made public by the city council showed there were more than 1,400 cases of fly-tipping between April and August meaning the investigations are just a fraction of the problem.

Out of the 158 cases investigated no one has been taken to court but seven people have received section 46 notices. These can land the resident in the courtroom if conditions are breached.

The council is hoping the introduction of wheelie bin collections every two weeks as part of a recycling policy and the hiring of a litter warden who can impose fines for environmental 'crimes' such as putting rubbish out on the wrong day will bring this figure down.

These 'litter cops' can impose fines of up to £75.

Cllr Jean Fooks, portfolio holder for a cleaner city, said: "There is still a bit of this fly-tipping and domestic rubbish being left on the streets going on, and I'm sure this is not all the cases that have occurred.

"But we are tackling it and things are going to get better.

"I am very pleased with the way the recycling and waste collection changes have begun and the old problems of people putting out black sacks of rubbish before collection should stop."

A majority of the investigations have taken place in Oxford city centre, East Oxford , Littlemore and in Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys.

Of the 158 cases the council has investigated, 19 reports remain open.

Once evidence is gathered and culprits have been identified - often through addresses left in rubbish sacks left out early for collection - interviews are held and a section 46 notice listing conditions which must be followed.

A city council spokesman said: "If they do not comply with the section 46 notice then we can take them to court and they can be fined up to £1,000 depending on the court.

"So far everybody has complied with the notices after they have been served and we have not had to take anyone to court."

It is estimated to cost the council taxpayer £68,00 to clear it up or £447 a day to clear away fly-tipping.

Oxfordshire County Council's waste and enforcement team can hand out £300 fixed penalty notices to businesses and landscape gardeners found guilty.

Blackbird Leys Parish Council runs a Keep Blackbird Leys Tidy Campaign working with schools and handing clean-up days.

Chairman Brian Lester said: "People must take notice, otherwise they will fall foul of the law and there's no use crying about it.

"We have to have recycling but until they get the whole system working properly it's difficult to effect it.

"It's costing taxpayers thousands and thousands of pounds but it's probably cheaper to clear the rubbish than prosecute people."