A BLACKBURN garage has been fined £600, with £600 costs, for selling a part-worn tyre in an unsafe condition.

The prosecution followed random test purchasing exercises carried out by Blackburn with Darwen Council Trading Standards officers. Blackburn Magistrates heard that the company, Randal Street Garage Limited, of Randal Street, had sold the tyre that had a nail embedded in it, contrary to Section 7 of the General Product Safety Regulations 1994.

The tyre also failed to have the part-worn identification marks required when selling tyres of this nature.

Executive member for citizens and consumer rights for the council, Councillor Maureen Bateson, said: "The council takes a very serious view at garage owners who sell sub-standard goods.

"We are concerned about the number of accidents that are caused through cars having faulty tyres, so much so that our officers will be repeating the random checks exercise later in the year.

"I hope that the courts decision to impose this fine acts as a deterrent to other traders."