Bradford is one of the worst areas in the country for fly tipping costing £400,000 a year to dispose of waste, a court heard yesterday.

Bradford magistrates were told that the Council deals with more than 5,500 fly tipping incidents a year and clears about 12,000 tons of rubbish.

Harjit Ryatt, prosecuting a waste carriers licensing case on behalf of Bradford Council, said strict laws had been introduced requiring anyone transporting and disposing of controlled waste to have an Environment Agency waste carrier's licence.

Mr Ryatt said the Council carried out a stop and search operation at Odsal, Bradford, in June this year and a Ford Transit van, driven by Steven Antony Stead, was found to be carrying scrap metal and broken furniture.

Stead said he collected scrap waste and sold it to a scrap merchant. He admitted not having a licence and was given 14 days to get one and produce it.

When he did not do so, he was issued with a £300 fixed penalty ticket, but failed to pay.

Mr Ryatt said Stead was stopped again in July carrying controlled waste without a licence.

Stead, 25, of Pearson Road West, Odsal, faced two charges of not having a licence to carry controlled waste. He failed to attend court yesterday and the case was dealt with in his absence.

The magistrates found the case proved and fined him £550 for each offence, with £391 costs.