SKIP loads of waste were dumped on open land to create a flood barrier before a house was built at the site, a court heard.

But the accumulated rubble, including plastic and timber, tipped at the Organics, in Burnhope, breached waste control regulations.

Durham Crown Court heard Environment Agency inspectors carried out covert surveillance in autumn 2003, after receiving complaints about unlawful tipping at the site.

Tahir Khan, prosecuting, said they believed it was an illegal land-filling operation. Although it was accepted some contaminants were burned on site, officers believed, large amounts of mixed waste were tipped there.

Mr Khan said 51-year-old Joseph Wright oversaw work on that part of the site, which was owned by two of his brothers.

Armed with a search warrant, agency officers visited in April 2004. Wright confirmed he was in charge, and accepted he allowed waste to be tipped on the site, said Mr Khan.

Mr Khan said skips, which brought rubble to the site, were owned by George Fulton, who must have known there was no waste management licence to permit such tipping there.

Wright, of Holmside Lane, and Fulton, of Greenwood Avenue, both Burnhope, each previously admitted three charges brought by the agency.

Mr Khan said: "Things have since improved, and the land appears to be in a tidy state, although more remedial work is required."

Paul Currer, for Wright, said concern over flooding onto the site from adjacent land led to the development of a flood barrier, before work was to start building a house there for his brother.

"He maintains he made great efforts to put controlled waste through a screen before putting it onto this land.

"He should have applied for a waste planning licence, but the waste that has now been removed wasn't particularly dangerous, and he has taken steps to remedy the situation."

David Callan, for Fulton, said he had just set up his business at the time and was naive about what could be dumped.

Judge Peter Bowers said they must have realised a waste licence was required.

He ordered Wright to perform 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £2,500 costs.

Fulton was ordered to carry out 60 hours unpaid work.