A council has carried out eight more prosecutions in its continuing crackdown on rubbish dumping.

Blackburn with Darwen Council took six people and two companies to court in December for offences ranging from dumping rubbish in back yards to traders leaving waste on land.

The litter louts were made to pay penalties totalling £5,000, with many of the residents charged in their absence.

* Catherine Porter, of Whitebirk Road, Blackburn, was found guilty of accumulating waste in her back yard. She did not appear in court and was fined £690 in her absence.

* A&R and Co Developments Ltd of Tendring House, Tulse Hill, London, was charged with failure to remove household waste from land in Infirmary Street, Blackburn. The fine given was £876.

* Father McKenzie Holdings Ltd, of Crosby Road South, Liverpool, failed to comply with a Community Protection Notice to remove controlled waste which had been left on land at Eleanor Street, Blackburn. The company was fined £690.

* Sherryl Louise Hough, of Lynwood Avenue, Darwen, was fined £565 for leaving household waste in the rear yard of the address.

* Household waste in a rear yard led to Mohammed Younis of Cherry Street, Blackburn, also being fined £565 in his absence.

* Fakhruddin Lodal, of T/A 3d Properties, Chatburn Street, Blackburn, failed to comply with a notice to remove household waste from land in Leach Street, Blackburn and was ordered to pay £690. (Case was withdrawn) 

* Further household waste was discovered at the property of Julie Drinkwater, of Kay Street, Darwen. She failed to appear in court and a fine of £125 was given in her absence.

* Claire Wilkinson of Bonsall Street, Blackburn, was fined £690 for household waste in her back yard.

Environmental services boss at Blackburn with Darwen council, Councillor Jim Smith, said: “This is a real warning for people who think it is OK to dump rubbish.

“They could end up with a hefty fine as well as being named and shamed.

“We will not tolerate this and are working hard to tackle the issue and hold those responsible to account.”