THE director of a skip-hire firm accused of considering itself above the law said its waste disposal site was “as good as anybody else's”.

Paul Shepherd also told Teesside Crown Court he thought it was acceptable for waste to be stored on the access road to the site in Dodsworth Street, Darlington, belonging to Albert Hill Skip Hire.

Mr Shepherd, who is on trial with his brother Raymond, was asked about a waste transfer building the company used at Dodsworth Street which Lee Fish, prosecuting on behalf of the Environment Agency, said had a leaking roof and an entire wall missing.

Mr Shepherd said: “I have been to a lot of recycling centres in my time and it was as good as anybody else's.

“Many recycling centres don't even have sheds.”

Mr Fish said the site was full to the brim with waste and there was barely enough room to work, which Mr Shepherd, who was giving evidence, denied.

Mr Shepherd admitted that although he had been made a director, he had little or no responsibilities, other than being a wagon driver and on occasions had signed off cheques not knowing what they were for.

He was also asked about an interview in which he gave a series of “no comment” answers to investigating officers.

Mr Shepherd said: “The questions that were asked they already knew the answers to.”

Mr Shepherd is accused along with his brother Raymond of operating the site at Dodsworth Street without an Environment Agency permit and ignoring a suspension notice.

However the prosecution are not proceeding with a charge of illegally depositing waste at a depot belonging to the firm in nearby Whessoe Road on April 22 2011 against Paul Shepherd on the basis of insufficient evidence.

The trial continues.