A Swindon resident has been fined nearly £2,000 because he didn't check the credentials of a waste collector.

Adrian Collingwood, of Whitbourne Avenue, admitted failing to ensure his waste was lawfully transferred at Salisbury magistrates on Monday.

He told the court he had given rubbish to ‘man with a van’ who knocked at this door asking for scrap metal. The court heard that that he failed to check the driver had a licence to carry waste and had failed to record vehicle details or where the waste would ultimately be disposed.

After it was dumped in a layby and a field in Winterbourne Monckton between Swindon and Avebury, Wiltshire Council environmental enforcement officers tracked the rubbish back to Mr Collingwood.

Bridget Wayman, Wiltshire Council's cabinet member for highways, transport and waste, said: “Residents and businesses have a legal duty of care in ensuring their waste is disposed of properly and legally. Residents and businesses should be wary about people door knocking asking to remove waste.

“We would also urge caution about using a ‘man with a van’ or similar adverts on social media to dispose of waste without making all the necessary checks and writing down the waste carrier’s licence number.”

Licences can be checked by calling the Environment Agency on 03708 506506.