Carl Pollitt, 26, from Leyland, was fined £220 and ordered to pay £737 in costs for dumping a settee, wardrobe and cushions on Sheep House Lane in Rivington.

He was caught by a United Utilities worker who spotted him dumping the items from a white van last September.

The worker took a note of the vehicle's registration which was traced to a van hire firm in Rochdale and the firm later supplied Pollitt's details to council investigators.

Pollitt was interviewed under caution and admitted the offence claiming he dumped the items to because he could not afford to pay for them to be recycled.

Illegal flytipping cost Chorley Council £46,000 last year and Coun Eric Bell, Chorley Council's executive member for neighbourhoods, claims the prosecution sends out a message to residents that it will not be tolerated.

He said: "The cost of dealing with fly-tipping in Chorley has to be met by council taxpayers and this money could be better spent improving services for residents.

"Fly-tipping could pose a threat to human health and to wildlife as well as detract from the amenity of the area so we take it very seriously and will robustly investigate any incidence of fly-tipping and pursue a prosecution where appropriate."

The case was heard at South Ribble Magistrates Court on Wednesday, February 17.