A FARMER told a court he had forgotten about five dead sheep which lay unburied on his land.

Michael Alan Nelson, 31, of Haslingden Old Road, Knuzden, was fined £250 and ordered to pay £227 costs after he admitted failing to dispose of the carcasses last June.

Hyndburn magistrates heard that an animal health inspector visited land off Moss Lane, Knuzden, in May following a complaint. He found nothing and during a subsequent phone conversation, Nelson told him he was not aware of any casualties among his stock during the previous six weeks.

When the inspector returned on June 3 he found one dead sheep by a dry stone wall and four more covered by corrugated iron sheets. Shown them, Nelson admitted he put them there and covered them. He told the inspector he must have then forgotten about them as he was busy mending fences. Mr Nelson expressed his regret and remorse about the incident to the court. Magistrates were told the law required those responsible for livestock to dispose of dead animals promptly and properly in order to prevent contamination of water and the spread of disease.

ZA Lancashire trading standards spokesman said: "We rely on the vigilance of local people to help us enforce these rules. Where we find people breaking the law, we always prosecute."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.