BUSINESS owners from Middlewich have been fined at court after being caught on CCTV dumping fly-tipping.

John and Caroline Preece, the owners of CW10 Beds and Mattresses, were spotted using a company van to dump waste in Salford on February 26 last year.

Among the waste was a bed frame and a double mattress.

Fifty-seven-year-old Mr Preece claimed he had been travelling through the city looking for a tip.

He added he had given £20 to a man in a hi-vis vest who told him to dump the rubbish in Cambridge Street.

The couple, of Booth Lane, Moston, pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates Court and were fined £150 each, ordered to pay £656.17 costs each, and to pay £87.50 compensation each – a total of £1,787.34. 

Cllr Barbara Bentham, lead member for environment, neighbourhoods and community safety for Salford City Council, said: “It’s astounding that people would drive to Salford to dump rubbish on our streets, rather than go to a household waste recycling centre closer to home. 

Northwich Guardian: The couple were fined at courtThe couple were fined at court (Image: Salford City Council)

“These prosecutions send out a strong message that fly-tipping will not be tolerated in our city. We are committed to finding and prosecuting those involved and using our CCTV network to identify offenders and bring them to justice.

“It costs Salford City Council over half a million pounds a year to remove and dispose of fly-tipping.

"This is taxpayers’ money, which could be spent on essential services for residents, including vulnerable adults and children needing social care."