A FARMER who illegally burned dead sheep and left the remains lying next to a river has been ordered to pay almost £1,000.

The charred remains of six sheep and a lamb belonging to Dennys Richardson Smith, of East Roughlea Farm, near Ferryhill, County Durham, were found five metres from the River Gaunless, near Bishop Auckland, magistrates were told.

"The public safety risks of the remains entering the river must be taken into account," Amy Harrison, prosecuting for Durham County Council trading standards department, told Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court.

Trading standards officers began investigating Smith, 54, after a dog-walker noticed the remains on July 4, the court heard.

They visited the riverside site the next day and found traces of a bonfire and the partially-burned remains of six sheep.

A vet was called in to examine them and estimated they may have been there for up to a month. The remains of a lamb were also discovered later.

The burning of dead animals has been illegal since 2003, the court was told.

Smith, who along with his wife and parents owns about 300 ewes and 500 lambs, is the fifth generation of his family to farm.

Simon Catterall, for Smith, said: "The site was previously used for burning sheep. Mr Smith realises it was not good enough to burn the sheep that day.

"He's never been in any trouble before and comes from a long line of distinguished farmers.

"He's very sorry about this. It will never happen again."

Smith pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to dispose of sheep carcasses, four charges of failing to dispose of sheep remains and one charge of failing to dispose of lamb remains.

He was fined £100 for each offence and ordered to pay £258.61 prosecution costs, leaving him to pay a total of £958.61.