FOUR residents of a borough have been ordered to pay more than £2,000 in court penalties for failing to dispose of household waste properly.

The court fines and charges followed prosecutions by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Two of the court cases were initiated after neighbours complained about mounting rubbish with rear gardens and nearby areas used as dumping grounds for rotting waste and discarded furniture.

The other two involved residents allowing unauthorised waste carriers to remove their rubbish, resulting in fly tipping.

The four defendants were summonsed to appear before Blackburn magistrates on April 6 after ignoring calls to act by the council.

Two failed to appear in court and had their cases proved in their absence, whilst the other two pleaded guilty.

The largest penalty was for Amy Louise Thornley of Herschell Street, Blackburn, who was ordered to pay £1,086.

Tony Watson, Blackburn with Darwen Council's environment director, said: "It’s brilliant to see heavy fines for those polluting our borough.

"We take every waste complaint extremely seriously and investigate thoroughly.

"The vast majority of residents care about the environment.

"However, there are a select few that continue to wrongly dispose of their rubbish."

Miss Thornley was fined £660 with costs of £360 and a victim surcharge of £66 (a total penalty of £1,086) after the case was proved in her absence.

She was charged that on March 9 2020 she did without reasonable excuse fail to comply with a requirement imposed by a notice in respect of failing to remove waste from land at Herschell Street, Blackburn

Bethany Riley of Orkney Close, Blackburn, was fined £220 with costs of £320 and a victim surcharge of £32 (a total of £572) after the case was proved in her absence.

She was charged that on January 2 2020 she did without reasonable excuse fail to comply with a notice served on October 28 2019 in respect of failing to remove waste from trailers on Orkney Close.

Eleanor Molly Radley of Newfield Drive, Blackburn was fined £200 with costs of £50 and a victim surcharge of £34 (total £284).

Donna Hardy of Manxman Road, Blackburn, was fined £200 with costs of £50 and a victim surcharge of £34 (total £284).

Both Miss Hardy and Miss Radley pleaded guilty to a charge that they failed to take all reasonable steps to ensure household waste was disposed of by an authorised person or persons.