The waste was dumped at a lay-by in Puxton Road

A MAN found guilty of fly-tipping in a village in North Somerset has been ordered to pay more than £1,800.

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Jeffrey Hughes appeared at North Somerset Courthouse in St Georges on January 30, and pleaded guilty of illegally dumping waste in Hewish on August 23.

He had originally been identified thanks to a tip-off from a member of the public.

The items dumped at the lay-by in Puxton Lane included three mattresses, a bed base and a mirror.

He was identified by a member of the public who saw where Hughes had collected the items from, and then followed the truck for some distance. She was then also able to recognise the items dumped as those seen on the truck.

PC Steve Church, who covers Hewish, said: “Fly-tipping has been raised as a policing priority by local residents in the Puxton and Hewish area.

“We worked closely with North Somerset Council, who cleared the rubbish, and will continue to work together and target those who blight the environment with illegal fly-tipping.”

The 35-year-old Hughes, of Beggs Close, North Petherton, was handed a £500 fine, ordered to pay £100 in clearance costs to the council, prosecution costs of £1,237.50 and a victim surcharge of £15.

On handing out the fine, magistrates said they regarded the offence as ‘very serious’ but had taken account of Hughes’ guilty plea.

Peter Bryant, North Somerset Council’s executive member for environmental protection, said the conviction showed the council would not tolerate fly-tipping.

He said: “If you fly tip we will make every effort to track you down. We will not tolerate this disgraceful behaviour that spoils our beautiful area and drains tax payers money.

“If people witness fly-tipping they don’t have to intervene but they can provide us with as much detail as possible. We can then use this to investigate. Incidents can be reported by telephoning the council on 01934/01275 888802.”