A number of illegal structures were removed by developers barely a few hours before enforcement officers moved in to demolish them, Mepa said today.

At a site in Xghajra, a large illegally-built room and reservoir in a field were removed. Similarly in Gudja, in the area known as Tal-Gholjiet, a land owners demolished and removed illegal agricultural rooms and structures.

In St Paul's Bay, a property owner removed an illegally-built porch in Louis Mountbatten Street.

In Ghaxaq, in an area known as Il-Maghqad, a contravenor removed over 1300cubic metres of illegally dumped material from a rural area.

"These landowners wisely sought the cheaper option than having to pay  thousands of euros to cover expenses incurred by the Authority to carry out a direct action operation," Mepa said.