THE operator of an illegal waste tyre site has been sentenced to 150 hours unpaid work.

The Environment Agency visited the site in Brittania Street, Great Harwood in November last year, and found more than 3,000 tyres stored on open ground and on a trailer.

Craig Johnson, 46, pleaded guilty to a charge of storing waste without a permit and was ordered to pay £500 costs in addition to the community service.

Anthony Swarbrick, from the Environment Agency said: “Johnson was not only under-cutting legitimate businesses in the area, but the site didn’t not have the necessary security measures in place to protect local residents and the environment.”

The site has since been cleared.