AN electrician has been fined for dumping waste in a county field after responding to a request on Facebook.

James Dennis Smith was paid £300 to take "three van loads" full of waste from a house renovation in Hereford.

He picked up the business after responding to a message on the social media website.

Hereford Magistrates Court was told he later dumped the waste, which was mainly comprised of bricks, in a field in Madley in September 2018.

Smith, who is 26 and from Clehonger, admitted one charge of fly tipping, one charge for not being a licensed waste carrier and one charge for failing in his duty of care to transfer waste legally to an authorised person on a previous occasion.

He was sentenced to a 12 month community order and told to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

He must also pay a fine of £680, costs of £635 and a £30 victim surcharge.

The case was taken to court by Herefordshire Council’s Community Protection Team who investigated the fly-tipping after being contacted by the Madley landowner.

To report fly-tipping, call them on 01432 261761.