A MAN was fined £500 by magistrates after admitting he had illegally burned controlled waste on his allotment.

Stanley Thexton, 53, of Main Street, Witton Park, pleaded guilty to depositing and disposing of commercial waste without a licence.

Magistrates sitting at Bishop Auckland heard that the Environment Agency carried out video surveillance of the Park Road allotment after complaints from neighbours about bonfire smoke.

The videos, which were played in court, showed Thexton placing waste material from a demolition company's van on to a bonfire and thick smoke, which could contain dioxins, being emitted.

Clive Booth, for Thexton, said: "Mr Thexton had an agreement with his employers, Tyne Tees Demolition, that he could keep any waste destined for a skip.

"The plastic casing was burnt off waste cable to get at copper wire inside, which was sold as scrap.

"When he first did this there were no houses nearby and it was seen as a way of recycling material and earning a little extra cash for himself and colleagues."

Magistrates fined Thexton £500 for disposing of the waste, with no separate penalty for depositing waste. He was also ordered to pay £150 towards legal costs.