A BLACKBURN company has been fined £8,000 after admitting two offences under the Environmental Protection Act.

Pets Choice Limited appeared in front of Blackburn magistrates and pleaded guilty to two offences under the act.

Nineteen local businesses and residents had complained to Blackburn with Darwen Council about the smell from the company's site in the Greenbank area of Blackburn. The firm was fined a total of £8,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,885.

The court was told that Pets Choice manufactures pet food at its factory in Gladstone Street, Blackburn. The process involves the cooking of animal material, and it has the potential to create a significant odour.

In June 2003 the site was inspected by a member of the council's Environmental Health Team and it was evident that they were not complying with the relevant conditions.

To date the Environmental Health Team have received 48 complaints from 19 residents and businesses in the Greenbank and Whitebirk area of Blackburn.

On August 22, 2003, three enforcement notices were served because doors of the process buildings were being left open allowing the smell to escape, odorous waste was being kept outside in uncovered containers, and holes had been found in the pipes that carry foul air. A member of the Environmental Health Team visited the site on September 16 and found foul smelling and fly-covered waste meat was being kept outside in open skips.

In mitigation the firm said that over the last year they have spent £100,000 to resolve the odour problem.