DUMPING rubbish in back yards cost three people in Darwen almost £4,000.

Blackburn with Darwen Council brought the prosecutions after residents of two houses did not respond to legal notices ordering the removal of the rubbish.

Kimberley Fielding, 32, and John Lochhead, 33, of Greenway Street, and Karalyn Bradshaw, 52, of Marsh House Lane, were all found guilty at Blackburn Magistrates' Court earlier this month of breaching an abatement notice under the Environmental Protection Act.

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In the first case, dating back to April 3, the council's public protection team was called to Fielding and Lochhead's home in Greenway Street after complaints about large amounts of waste in the back yard, the court heard.

A huge pile of black bin bags containing household waste was found which was even stopping the gate from opening properly.

The council sent letters to the defendants instructing them to remove the waste but a repeat visit found the situation had got worse.

A legal notice was served and, when the pair did not remove the waste themselves, council officers were sent in to clear the rubbish at a cost of £197.

They were both found guilty in their absence at a hearing earlier this month and fined £600 each and ordered to pay £463 costs, £98.50 compensation for clearance of waste and a £60 victim surcharge.

In June, similar complaints were made about Bradshaw's home in Marsh House Lane, the yard of which was found to contain a mix of household waste as well as chairs, mattresses and toys.

The court heard Bradshaw ignored a letter instructing her to remove the waste and again, council officers were sent to clear it.

The waste was cleared at a cost of £145, although the children's toys were not removed.

Bradshaw was found guilty in her absence and fined £600, ordered to pay costs of £463, compensation of £145 and a £60 victim surcharge.

Coun Jim Smith, executive member for environment at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said “Both these court cases and their respective outcomes show the council’s commitment and resolve when tackling anti-social behaviour.

"It is not acceptable for irresponsible residents to openly flout environmental law nor have such disregard for public health and public safety.

“Both of these cases have highlighted the high costs involved to residents who are caught and subsequently fined.

"While my determination to punish those that commit disgusting acts like these is resolute, I urge any resident who may have large items of waste to take advantage of the current council scheme to freely dispose of large items of waste at selected points throughout the borough over the coming weeks."