A FORMER football club chairman says his company is still in the clear over tipping charges, even though he faces a stiff legal bill following a successful Environment Agency appeal to the High Court.

Former Bishop Auckland FC boss Steve Newcomb and his company R Newcomb and Sons, agreed to pay thousands of pounds in court costs at the hearing on Monday.

In February the company, in Escomb, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, was found not guilty of 13 offences of knowingly causing controlled waste to be deposited on unlicensed land at Newburn Sidings, Seaton Carew, after a trial at Hartlepool magistrates court.

The original case had centred on the use of construction waste being used to build football pitches at Seaton Carew.

The company did not need a Waste Management Licence for the tipping, provided it used suitable materials.

Mr Newcomb said yesterday that this week's hearing had not altered the magistrate's verdict.

He said: "After having representations on the matter, his lordship ruled that the magistrates were technically wrong in relation to their interpretation of the law.

"However, there were no directions made to refer this case back to Hartlepool magistrates and therefore R Newcomb and Sons and Mr Steven Newcomb stand acquitted in respect of all charges."