A COMPANY that illegally stored up to 30,000 tyres next to the East Coast Mainline has been fined for creating a fire hazard.

Rethink Waste stored tyres without a permit at Station Lane in Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, from February 2014.

The firm and one of its officers, James William Robb, 57, of Braeside, Burnhope, admitted the offence and were both fined £2,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,750 and a £120 victim surcharge.

Robb said Rethink collected tyres from across the North-East intending to export them and had registered an exemption, meaning it did not require a permit to temporarily store and treat used tyres.

But the Environment Agency said the number stored far exceeded the number allowed by the exemption.

The site has now been cleared of all tyres.

Dave Edwardson, North-East enforcement team leader for the Environment Agency, said: “At the end of our investigation there were up to 30,000 tyres dumped at this site, just next to the rail line.

“As a result of our investigation we’ve seen the removal of all the tyres from the site, taking away a serious hazard, and have pursued the case through the courts.

“Illegal waste sites such as this pose a serious risk to the environment and the community, as well as undermining legitimate businesses, and we’ll continue to take action against those involved.”