A WOMAN who abandoned a car in Weir has been ordered to pay more than £850 in fines and court costs.

Miss Leanne Kaut of Lytham Street, Rochdale was found to be the registered owner of a vehicle abandoned on Burnley Road in the town.

The car had no current MOT certificate and no road tax.

The blue Suzuki Vitara was mouldy inside, full of rubbish and had debris underneath it indicating it had been there for some time.

A fixed penalty notice was issued to Miss Kaut which she failed to pay resulting in the court proceedings.

Miss Kaut, who did not attend court for the hearing at Burnley Magistrates on October 7, was fined £440 and ordered to pay £150 in legal costs, £240 investigation costs and £44 victim surcharge - £874 in total.

It was the latest successful prosecution in Rossendale Council's 'Operation Trident' fight against fly tipping and abandoned vehicles across the borough.

The operation coordinates a three-pronged approach of 'Education, Enforcement and Removal'.

Cllr Steve Hughes, Rossendale Council's communities boss, said: “Operation Trident is really beginning to take effect now with more and more successful prosecutions.

“Whilst this demonstrates the tough stance we are willing to take, we also want to see the number of abandoned vehicles and fly-tipping incidents coming down, so we don’t have to prosecute.

“We realise that this takes a bit more time and education but hopefully people will see the tough stance we are taking and will think twice before dumping their rubbish or leaving their vehicles.

“Rossendale Council takes these issues very seriously and we are committed to delivering a cleaner and greener borough.”