LANCASHIRE County Council has lost a legal ruling over a multi-million pound waste contract.

A judge has decided County Hall showed ‘bias’ towards Environmental Waste Controls Ltd (EWC) when awarding a contract to waste giant Sita.

EWC claimed its bid had been £3.5million cheaper than the rival company.

The council will now face a bill for damages, although it said it was ‘highly likely’ to appeal against the verdict.

A spokeswoman for Hill Dickinson, the law firm representing EWC, said the amount of compensation would be determined over the next few months.

EWC chairman Bill Edwards said he was ‘delighted’ with the verdict.