A HOUSING developer was fined £1,300 and ordered to pay £843.65 in costs for obstructing a public footpath then digging part of it up.

McDermott Developments Limited, of Burnley, pleaded guilty in a case brought by Pendle Council.

The company was taken to court after local people complained to the council and it failed to respond to the council's requests to correct the problems.

It admitted that its security fencing had obstructed the footpath between Stoney Bank Road and Barnfield Crescent, Earby, for around four weeks.

It also admitted disturbing the footpath by digging on the line of the path and driving const-ruction machines across the land.

Earby ward councillor Morris Horsfield said: "I hope this sends out a clear message that when people mistreat council-owned land, we will take action."