A SCRAP dealer given time by a court to clear oil from his land did it - and won a judge's praises.

Pensioner Brian Nutter, 72, came from a different era than the era of environmental protection of today, Burnley Crown Court heard.

The defendant, who did not have a waste management licence, had earlier had his case adjourned to give him time to clean up his land.

He had now "put his house in order," and Judge Raymond Bennett said he should be complemented for doing so.

Nutter, of Factory Lane, Barrowford, appeared for deferred sentence after earlier admitting keeping controlled waste.

He was given a two-year conditional discharge and must pay costs of £5,041. He had no previous convictions for environmental offences.

The court was told Nutter still had tyres on his land but he seemed to be making legitimate efforts to get rid of them.

Nutter's defence said he was not a man of means. He lived with his daughter and was looked after by her.