A man from County Durham has been fined near to £1000 after failing to remove a large quantity of bin bags from his garden.

The male, from Grange Villa, was initially issued with a community protection notice after bags of litter were left strewn across his yard - making it look untity and unkempt. 

After failing to clear up the litter, magistrates have been forced to step in and have fined him £946 and granted an order stating that he must remove the litter or face further punishment.

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A spokesperson for Durham County Council's warden team said: "A male from Grange Villa has been prosecuted for failing to comply with a Community Protection Notice requiring him to remove waste from a yard.

"He was fined a total of £946 and the magistrate has also granted a remedial order instructing him to remove the waste as our team could not gain access to carry out works in default."

To report issues of waste in yards/gardens/private land please call 03000 260000 or use the on line reporting system