LEAVING a car abandoned open land cost a 35-year-old woman more than £2,500.

Ms Aija Dabola of Wales Road Edgeside, was found guilty of abandoning a motor vehicle by Blackburn Magistrates Court, following a case brought by Rossendale Borough Council.

In May last year enforcement officers from the Public Protection Unit of Rossendale Borough Council found a 2013 VW Polo which had been abandoned on land off Wales Road.

The vehicle, which had a Statutory Off Road Notice at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and had no MOT certificate, was recovered and scrapped after it was not moved for seven days.

A fixed penalty notice for £200 was issued to Ms Dabola as the registered keeper.

Ms Dabola failed to pay the fixed penalty which resulted in court proceedings.

She was absent from court and was convicted of the offence, resulting in a fine of £1,000 and an additional order to pay £1,675 costs.

Rossendale Council's environment boss Cllr Adrian Lythgoe said: “Rossendale Borough Council takes issues such as this very seriously and is committed to delivering a cleaner and greener borough.

“We have stepped up enforcement and will take a tough stance with those who blight our communities with fly-tipping, abandon vehicles, littering and dog fouling.

"We were pleased the prosecution was successful and hope this will deter others from acting in a similar way.”

Ms Dabola was found guilty of abandoning a motor vehicle contrary to section two of Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978.