A MAN must pay a £1,000 fine for cleaning his garden pond after he was prosecuted for disturbing the habitat of endangered amphibians.

Peter Dennis of Spennymoor, County Durham, was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £500 costs after a court heard that great crested newts and frogs had been killed as he tried to clear his pond.

Magistrates in Darlington found him guilty of "controlling and recklessly disturbing great crested newts in a structure or place used for shelter or protection".

The court heard that in November 1999 Mr Dennis bought land, which included a large pond, in the knowledge that a significant population of great crested newts was present.

English Nature advised him how to manage the pond, specifically recommending against water weed removal in the critical spring and summer breeding period.

However, a large quantity of weed was removed from the pond between March 21 and 25, last year.

Durham Police investigated the incident, and revealed that numerous newts and frogs were trapped, and some killed, inside the piled up water plants.

Sergeant Dave Wray, of Durham Police, said: "Mr Dennis was given extensive advice beforehand but chose to ignore it.

"If the police have evidence a wildlife crime has been committed, we and the other relevant agencies will take action.

"I hope this case serves as a warning to anyone else tempted to flout the law."

Mr Dennis, who with his wife, Linda, runs a conservatory and window firm, said: "We have tried to manage the pond because, if we didn't, it would get smothered in pond weed and nothing would be able to live in it.

"I was prosecuted because I had cleaned it in spring rather than winter."