A MAJOR retailer has been hauled before the courts for failing to dispose of waste materials properly - endangering the surrounding environment and wildlife.

Halfords Limited, which has more than 250 stores across the UK, pleaded guilty at Hartlepool Magistrates Court yesterday to failing to ensure plastic and cardboard containers did not escape from its site.

The court heard that on November 3, last year, Hartlepool Borough Council received complaints about discarded containers strewn around the rear of the Brenda Road store.

Environmental enforcement officers visited the site and found a number of containers floating in the nearby balancing pond, which is a haven for wildlife and is where surface water from the area is stored and run off into the Tees.

Tony Macnab, prosecuting, said it was the second time in four years that Halfords in the town had been taken to court over the handling of its waste.

But Stephen Panton, defending Halfords, said credit should be given to the store for pleading guilty at the first opportunity, and added that both prosecutions had been isolated incidents.

He said: "It would appear that the waste was removed from the receptacle - we can say by persons unknown, for want of a better word, by vandals - and scattered. I would suggest there are no aggravating circumstances.

"There is no long-term environmental damage to the rear of the site, or balancing pond, and no injury to a third party."

He said that since the latest incident, Halfords had taken steps to ensure packing was discarded properly, and aded that regular checks would be made to ensure the area was clean.

Ian Burton, the council's environmental enforcement manager, said people should learn from Halfords mistake.

He said all business waste should be secure from vandals, with regular checks carried out.

He said: "The council derives no joy from taking out prosecutions. We would rather provide information and advice to help companies discard of their waste properly.

"This was a serious breach, as we keep the balancing pond water level low, to prevent somebody from drowning, as has happened in the past, and if the outlet gets blocked by waste, the water cannot run off and the water level rises.

"And this breach was extremely dangerous to wildlife. It could also have contaminated the water."

The store was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £290 costs.