A businessman has denied 31 charges of illegally dumping rubbish.

Abderrazak Hajb, of Woodford Green, pleaded not guilty to repeatedly dumping waste without a permit and failing to take reasonable measures to stop waste spreading at Thames Magistrates Court today.

The alleged offences relate to the dumping of items including sauce bottles, boxes, black bags, vegetable waste and meat at the site of café Theatro in Mare Street, Hackney.

Mr Hajb, 48, of Ray Lodge Road, claimed he had already signed over the licence to another person.

Hackney council is leading the prosecution for the alleged crimes, which took place between August 2011 and May 2015.

The trial will be held at Walthamstow Magistrates Court on February 11, 2015.