A LANDSCAPE gardener has been ordered to pay more than £2,500 in fines and costs for illegally dumping waste from his business and setting fire to it in Hereford.

After discovering the fire, police were concerned that nearby houses could catch fire, and had to wake up the neighbours and call the fire service.

Shaun Smith, of Putson Avenue in Hereford, had set fire to his rubbish near the Travelodge at Grafton in Hereford.

He admitted three charges of fly-tipping and failing to use an authorised waste service before Hereford magistrates.

The court heard how the waste was on fire in a field behind the Travelodge in November 2022, and that community protection officers from the council found piles of bricks, tyres, white goods and other waste.

Smith, 52, was then caught unloading more waste from his flatbed truck.

ALSO READ:

The offences for which he was fined covered an eight-month period but officials said he could not provide evidence as to where he had disposed of his business waste for the previous two years.

Smith, who traded as Garden and Landscape Services, was fined £733 and ordered to pay £1,500 in costs and a £293 victim surcharge.

Charles Yarnold from Herefordshire Council said: "Fly-tipping is a serious environmental hazard and a blight on our beautiful county. Anyone found fly-tipping waste will be prosecuted."