TWO fly-tippers have been ordered to pay almost £3,000 after a council investigation.

On Friday, October 16, two men pleaded guilty to illegally dumping their waste in two separate incidents that took place around Romsey.

Richard Whittaker, of North Baddesley, admitted fly-tipping wood from a guinea pig hutch in a layby along Lee Lane in April, 2019.

He was also prosecuted for failing to produce his waste carrier licence when asked by the council.

He appeared at Southampton Magistrates Court and was fined £750 for the fly-tipping offence and failing to produce his carrier licence, as well as being ordered to pay £961 in costs and a £75 victim surcharge.

Adam Whitcher, of Totton, admitted to fly-tipping after concrete blocks were thrown out of his car window along Toothill Road.

This is said to have happened when he was driving to the Household Waste Recycling Centre in Romsey in August last year.

He was fined £500, ordered to pay £1,126.70 in costs and £65 in compensation.

During lockdown, officers from the Test Valley Borough Council’s environmental service and legal service continued to investigate cases of fly-tippers and had enough evidence to take both defendants to court.

Environmental portfolio holder, councillor Alison Johnston, said: "What makes these cases even more so, is that everyone was doing their best to during a difficult few months, and for others to feel it’s okay to simply throw their rubbish away with no consequences, is horrendous.

"Fly-tipping will never be acceptable, and in Test Valley, we will search until we have enough evidence to prosecute."