A SOUTHAMPTON businessman who started a major fire by illegally burning waste material at an airfield has been fined thousands of pounds.

Portable building firm manager David Hudson, 73, has walked free from court after he started a fire which lasted 24 hours, covering a village in smoke.

Officers from the Environment Agency found smouldering piles of waste, most of which appeared to be materials from demolished portacabins, when they were sent to a Somerset airfield to investigate reports of illegal burning.

A court heard how in March last year, Hudson, who runs Astracom Portable Accommodation Ltd, based in Foundry Lane, was ordered to clear the site without burning the materials by the beginning of April.

But a month later, on April 18, firefighters joined agency officers at the airfield when crews were called to reports of a “large fire” with smoke covering the village of Henstridge, near Sherborne.

A spokesman for the agency said: “On arrival they discovered two large fires producing thick black smoke.

“There was a smell of burning plastic. One officer found it unpleasant to breathe and his eyes were watering.

“The senior fire officer at the scene believed the fires contained plastic chairs, foam insulation, metals, wood, tyres and tyres.”

The spokesman added: “Hudson told the emergency crews he didn’t want the fires put out, but firemen extinguished the burning waste using foam.

“The incident took 24 hours to resolve and involved three fire service pumping appliances, one water carrier, a mechanical digger and two support vehicles.

“The police also attended following a report of smoke covering the nearby village of Henstridge.”

Appearing at Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court Hudson admitted burning waste including plastic, metals and office furniture at an airfield in Somerset.

The 73-year old was given a six month prison sentence suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to pay £5,239 in costs after pleading guilty.

James Holbrook of the Environment Agency said: “We will not hesitate to prosecute people who illegally dispose of waste by burning.

“This defendant was given every opportunity to safely clear his site, but he chose to ignore our advice and burn a substantial amount of waste that required attendance by ourselves and the fire service.”