FOUR fly-tippers have been ordered to pay £1,176 in court fines and charges after council prosecutions.

Three pleaded guilty to irresponsibly dumping rubbish at the rear of houses instead of in a bin.

The fourth pleaded guilty to fly-tipping waste from his vehicle.

The fines and charges followed summonses to appear before magistrates issues by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Borough environment boss Cllr Jim Smith said the prosecutions were further evidence of its refusal to tolerate the illegal dumping of rubbish.

Blackburn magistrates ordered Dean Scott of Manxman Road to pay £419 after he pleaded guilty to depositing controlled waste from a vehicle on land in the Highercroft area without the necessary waste permits on April 11 2020.

He was fined £300 with costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £34.

In the other three cases residents had dumped waste at the rear of their properties and ignored council calls to remove it.

Miss Reggi Caterina and Mrs Isobella Martini Magliomi, both living at the same property in Saunders Road, Blackburn, were ordered to pay £219 each after pleading guilty to failing to take all reasonable steps to ensure household waste was disposed of by an authorised person or persons authorised for transport purposes on November 17 2020.

They were both fined £100 with costs of £85 and victim surcharge of £34.

Patrick Lawrence of Bedford Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to failing to take all reasonable steps to ensure household waste produced by Bedford Street is disposed of by an authorised person or persons authorised for transport purposes on December 10 2020.

He was fined £200 with costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £34, a total penalty of £319.

All the cases were heard on May 18.

Cllr Smith said: "We’re making it very clear that the council will not tolerate rubbish being disposed of irresponsibly across our borough.

"Our household waste recycling centres are open seven days in Blackburn and Darwen, so there really is no excuse for dumping rubbish out of your vehicle or letting waste pile up.

"Most residents take pride in and look after their surrounding areas and homes, however we will do everything in our power to take action against those who don’t.

"Last year, the Environmental Waste Crime team received payment for 66 fixed penalty notices and handled 49 prosecutions."