Environmental protection 'is everyone's responsibility'

Everyone has a part to play in protecting the environment from damage, the Environment Agency has asserted.

Marc Condra, an environmental crime officer with the organisation, made his comments after a South Tyneside man was stripped of his waste carrier licence after his firm - Boldon Rubbish - was linked to fly-tipping.

Robert Thompson had action taken against him after his son - an employee of the company - admitted to two separate instances of unlawfully dumping waste earlier in the year.

Mr Condra stressed that the body will not hesitate to take action against those found to be harming the environment in some way.

"Trading in waste is big business and it is vital that everyone does their bit to protect their environment against fly-tippers by making sure they use an authorised operator," he concluded.

Earlier this month, the Environment Agency announced that South West Water was ordered to pay a total of £10,785 in costs and fines after pleading guilty to discharging poor-quality effluent from a site in Bude.

Posted by Lauren Steadman