A SCRAPYARD owner who dumped waste on a Darwen demolition site thought he had permission to do so.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Ian Bury was not authorised to tip the oil contaminated waste on a site in Hindle Street which was opposite a school.

Bury, 33, of Marabou Drive, Darwen, pleaded guilty to depositing controlled waste, failing to comply with duties regarding controlled waste and failing to supply information required by the waste regulation authority. He was fined £500 and ordered to pay £500 costs.

Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said it was naivety that had got Bury involved in the fly tipping on a demolition site. He said Bury had been involved in purchasing a bookmaking business in Darwen but the deal had been delayed and instead he had bought the scrap yard known as Darwen Autobreakers.

He had set to clearing the site and had disposed of 1,000 tyres and hired a JCB. He said Bury maintained he had got an agreement to dump the waste on the Hindle Street site although this had been disputed by the owner.

"That would not have obviated him from responsibility but I would suggest it was naivety that got him involved with these offences," said Mr Church-Taylor.

He said Bury had eventually handed back the keys for the yard and walked away. He now had a full time job but was still paying off the business development loan he had originally taken out to buy the betting shop but then pumped into the scrapyard.