A 51-year-old woman from Letchworth must pay £430 after she admitted fly-tipping asbestos in the town.

Sarah Jane Dowling admitted to Stevenage magistrates on Friday that she had dumped the asbestos in Norton Road, the same street she lives in.

Two other women admitted similar offences the same day – 28-year-old Amy McCausland of Arlesey pleaded guilty to failing her duty of care after domestic waste of hers was dumped at Norton Mill Lane in Baldock.

Aiesha Levy, 25, of Kyrkeby in Letchworth, admitted fly-tipping green waste at one of North Herts District Council’s recreation grounds.

McCausland must pay £774, while Levy was handed a bill for £330.

Councillor Bernard Lovewell, executive member for environmental health at the district council, said: “Fly-tipping is a real problem in North Herts. Not only are there financial implications for clearing it up, which affects the council taxpayer, but it also damages wildlife and ruins our towns and lovely countryside.

“Why take the risk of getting a criminal record and a hefty fine for breaching the Environmental Protection Act when there are legal, cost effective and environmentally-friendly ways to dispose of your waste?

“We hope these cases serve as a deterrent. Rest assured that the council will take action against anyone found responsible for this criminal act.”

If you witness fly-tipping, report it at the district council’s website at north-herts.gov.uk.

The same website has information on how to dispose of your rubbish properly and about the district council’s bulky waste collection service.

For a list of registered waste carriers, see environment-agency.gov.uk.