BUILDING contractors who dumped 450 tons of bricks and rubble in a field instead of taking it to an authorised tip were fined £1,000 yesterday.

Acorn Developments (North-East) Ltd, of Pease Way, Newton Aycliffe, were also ordered to pay costs of nearly £940 by Bishop Auckland magistrates when it admitted dumping waste without a licence.

The firm's managing director, Alan Peacock, apologised, saying the company had not acted with malice.

Ruth Rochester, prosecuting for the Environment Agency, said the owner of the field at Bracken Hill, Hunwick, had wanted it levelling off for her horses.

She agreed to pay £5 per load to Acorn Developments, which was working on a new Hyperion Homes estate nearby.

"There were between 25 and 30 loads which contain-ed bricks and other unsuitable materials from a building site," said Mrs Rochester.

"The nearest authorised site is six miles away and the cost would have been £10 per load, so the company has made a considerable saving."

After the case, special enforcement officer Roy Howitt said: "We are delighted that the court has chosen to recognise this practice of dumping building waste instead of paying for its proper disposal.

"The fine reflects the cost potentially saved by the developers by not adhering to the law on depositing waste and should hopefully serve as a warning to companies considering doing likewise."