A 38-YEAR-OLD man from Wick has been ordered to pay a £230 fine and £300 in court costs after pleading guilty to fly tipping.

Richard Short, of Naishcombe Hill, was prosecuted by South Gloucestershire Council's environmental protection agency after his plea.

Short dumped four bags of household waste, including bottles and tins, on Church Road in Bitton beneath a 'no fly tipping' sign.

Evidence found from the waste led services back to Mr Short, who then confirmed that the waste belonged to him.

Whilst claiming that he had paid for it to be removed, the court was satisfied that he had failed in his duty of care to dispose of the waste properly.

South Gloucestershire Council’s cabinet member for communities and tourism, Cllr Paul Hughes said: “Fly tipping is an issue that has a negative impact on our communities and local environment.

"We all have a responsibility to make sure that our waste is disposed of in the appropriate manner. Anyone that fly-tips in our area is five times more likely to be successfully prosecuted than anywhere else in the country.

“We have a 100% record of securing successful prosecutions for this type of offence, so if you allow your rubbish to be fly tipped by failing to ensure it is correctly removed in South Gloucestershire, you can expect to be caught and prosecuted.”

The council also reminded members of the public that: "Unwanted goods and household or garden waste can all be disposed of at no cost via the council’s Sort IT! centres.