A RESIDENT has become the first person in Bolton to be hit with a fine for fly-tipping following the introduction of new legislation.

Terence Turnbull, aged 60, of Rawlinson Street, Horwich, was fined £100 and ordered to pay £250 costs by magistrates, after the first prosecution of its type to be brought by Bolton Council.

Council officers had followed up a complaint that six bags of household rubbish had been dumped behind his premises.

On Tuesday at Bolton Magistrates' Court, Turnbull pleaded guilty to a charge under the Environmental Protection Act.

Before the court case, when questioned by council officers, Turnbull said that his flatmate normally got rid of their rubbish.

However, officials' efforts to contact the flatmate were unsuccessful and the decision was taken to prosecute.

Householders had previously been exempt of any duty of care if rubbish was passed to someone else to dispose of. However, legislation introduced in 2005 has given local authorities the option to prosecute residents for offences of this nature.

Council leader Cllr Cliff Morris vowed to use the Act to convict similar offenders in the future.

He said: "We are pleased with the penalty imposed, which, hopefully, will act as a deterrent to anyone else contemplating similar action.

"This is the first time the council has taken someone to court under the changed legislation and people can no longer say they paid a man in a van to take it away'.

"This sort of act often creates problems for people living near where the dumping has taken place and also involves the council-tax payers picking up the bill to clear up the mess. We shall continue to use the new powers."