A COMPANY has been fined £3,000 after two fires broke out at its waste transfer station.

Ward Brothers Steel Limited, in Darlington, admitted three breaches of its waste management licence and one charge of depositing special waste.

Magistrates at Bishop Auckland were told that two fires broke out at the company's Albert Road site, on December 4, 2003, and March 29 last year.

The Environment Agency was called when fire officers determined the first blaze was caused by scrap metal being crushed, which ignited vapour leaking from aerosol cans. Approximately 60 tonnes of scrap metal went up in flames.

The company's waste management licence does not allow it to process hazardous or special waste, which included the aerosols.

Staff told an Environment Agency investigation that the aerosols were brought in by a licensed carrier and that the paperwork listed the material as scrap.

The court heard that staff noticed the aerosols, but failed to inspect them to see whether they were hazardous or empty before they were compacted.

The blaze spread to other waste, which staff tried to extinguish, but they were beaten back by explosions.

The court heard how a passer-by noticed the blaze and called the fire brigade.

On March 29 last year, a passing Environment Agency officer noticed a fire in the company's yard. The blaze was not reported to the fire brigade or the Environment Agency.

It took firefighters 90 minutes to extinguish the flames.

The company gave no explanation for its cause.

In mitigation, Ward Brothers Steel Limited said it enjoyed a good reputation and, until now, had no convictions for environmental offences.

They said employees failed to alert the Environment Agency because they were intent on putting out the fires.

The company, which was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £1,200 costs, admitted one charge of receiving the aerosols, one charge of compacting the aerosols and two charges of failing to report the fire.

James Kirkup, of the agency, which brought the prosecution, said: "These regulations are in place not only to protect the environment, but to ensure the safety of people in the vicinity."

No one at Ward Brothers Steel Limited was available for comment.