TWO men have been fined as a result of a council crackdown on fly-tipping.

David Middleton, of Stanley, and Dennis Burdon, of Pelton Fell, have been prosecuted by Durham County Council as part of its Operation Stop It campaign against the illegal dumping of waste.

Newton Aycliffe magistrates heard how one of the council’s neighbourhood wardens last year launched an investigation into a complaint about household waste fly-tipped in the Stanley area. When the warden visited the site, she found among the dumped waste a package bearing a woman’s address.

The woman was contacted and she told the council how she had arranged for two men to remove waste for her through Facebook.

Enquiries were made which resulted in Middleton, 30, of Standish Street, South Moor, and Burdon, 24, of Henley Avenue, being issued with legal notices compelling them to attend interviews. However, neither responded and they were both charged for the failure to attend.

Middleton pleaded guilty by post and Burdon’s solicitor entered a guilty plea on his behalf. Both men were fined £120 and ordered to pay victim surcharges of £30. Middleton was ordered to pay costs of £187.28 and Burdon £150.

Daniel Anderson, 23, of Stanley, was found guilty in absence and fined £180, given a victim surcharge of £30 and ordered to pay £152.50 costs after failing to comply with a notice compelling him to move waste near Park Road in South Moor, last year.