Two men have been fined for dumping waste in a lane after being told they could not use a recycling centre.

Chelmsford Magistrates Court heard council officers found the mix of commercial and domestic rubbish in Epping Lane, Stapleford Tawney.

They were able to trace its origin back to a shop in Borders Lane, Loughton, through items found in the domestic waste.

The shopowner claimed she had asked her cousin Karl Stichman, 22, of Colson Road in Loughton, to dispose of the waste at a council-run recycling centre.

But on arrival, he and Jay Grant, 24, of Grosvenor Drive in Loughton, were denied use of the facility as the load contained commercial waste, the court heard.

Mr Stichman later admitted fly-tipping and was given a 12-month community order, a three-month curfew between the hours of 8pm and 7am and a £298 fine.

Grant was also given a community order and fined £298, with a requirement he carries out 100 hours of unpaid work.

Environment portfolio holder Cllr Will Breare-Hall said: “This prosecution should act as a strong message that

Epping Forest District Council has a zero tolerance policy on flytipping.

"Not only does it cost thousands of pounds of local tax payers’ money to clean it up, it is also harmful to the environment.

“Everyone has a legal responsibility to ensure their waste is disposed of properly and doesn’t get dumped.”