A PUB landlady was fined by magistrates after rubbish was found dumped in a country lane.

Victoria Dawn Benson was found guilty of breaching her duty of care in repect of her trade waste at Reedley Magistrates' Court and fined £200.

She had denied the offence.

Benson admitted failing to produce waste transfer documents and was fined £50 for that offence. No costs were awarded due to lack of means, the court heard.

Miss Sajada Khan, prosecuting on behalf of Burnley Council, told the court a council enforcement officer was called to investigate fly tipping off Farrington Place, Burnley.

He discovered 21 bags of rubbish containing beer cans, beer mats, bingo cards, quiz answers and other materials that led council investigators to the Grey Mare pub in Gannow Lane.

The rubbish was cleared by the council.

Benson, licensee of the Grey Mare, was interviewed and said she usually took cans and bottles from the pub to the tip.

The pub had been refurbished and a skip had been hired to collect waste before being taken away, she said.

She accepted the flytipped waste had come from the pub and, as licensee, she was responsible for the rubbish. She could not explain how the rubbish came to be dumped.

In June 2007 Benson was asked to produce waste transfer notes and other documents relating to the proper disposal of waste from the pub but failed to do so.

Joyce Walkden, principal environmental health officer with the council, said: "Burnley Council has a zero tolerance approach to fly tipping as part of its drive to create a cleaner, greener and safer borough for everyone. Fly tipping is irresponsible and anti social and we will do our upmost to prosecute anyone caught dumping rubbish."