A Yate man has been fined almost £1,500 for two incidences of fly-tipping.

Geoffrey Ferris, 35, of Orchard Close, Yate, was found guilty of fly-tipping in Hackett Lane, near Thornbury, and in Hoovers Lane, near Iron Acton, between March and May last year.

He was also guilty of the offence of carrying waste without being a registered carrier.

Bristol Magistrates’ Court heard the two fly-tips, consisting of various household waste, were in rural lanes and evidence was found relating to an address in Cromhall, and one in Yate.

Enquiries made by South Gloucestershire Coucil's environmental protection team identified the waste had been removed by Ferris as business transactions. When Ferris was interviewed by Council officers, he admitted to the two fly-tipping incidents and that he did not a hold waste carriers licence.

Ferris was fined £400 for each fly-tip, £200 for the other offence, plus £485.09 costs, totalling £1,485.09.

Charmaine Whereatt, 36, of Hillside Road, Kingswood, was also ordered to pay a total of £752 after pleading guilty to fly-tipping 10 bags of household waste at Court Farm Road, Longwell Green, in January last year.

Cabinet member for communities and tourism Cllr Paul Hughes said: “These are two different examples that again highlight why there is no excuse for this type of behaviour.

"Fly-tipping is an issue that affects our communities and local environment and this activity will not be tolerated in South Gloucestershire.

"Waste crime puts the environment at risk and anyone found to be fly-tipping in South Gloucestershire will be prosecuted.

"Residents also have a duty of care to ensure that they only give their waste to registered waste carriers."