A YOUNG mum has been fined almost £300 - for putting her bin out the day before it was due to be collected.

Zoe Watmough left her grey bin and a green recycling bin outside her home on a Wednesday.

But it was spotted by Bolton Council enforcement officers who issued a fine because Miss Watmough's collection day was Thursday.

Rules dictate bins should not be put out until after 7.30am on the day refuse collectors are due.

Miss Watmought did not appear in court and was fined in her absence.

But the 22-year-old mother of two, of Essex Street, Horwich, said last night she was flabbergasted' at the outcome of the case: "There are people committing all sorts of crimes and getting away with it. I have left my bin out and have been fined the best part of £300.

"Everybody in this area puts their bins out the day before collection. I don't see what the problem is and can't afford to pay the fine," she said.

The court heard Miss Watmough had already been sent a warning by council officers who spotted on a Tuesday last November, that her bins were out before collection day.

When they spotted them out on a second occasion - a Wednesday in January - Miss Watmough was given a £75 fine. That resulted in a prosecution because she did not pay it within seven days.

Yesterday she was fined £125, ordered to pay £125 costs and a £15 victim surcharge when her case was heard by Bolton magistrates The court was told Bolton Council is pursuing prosecutions over bins left on streets because of the number of arson attacks by youths in the area.

Alison Kelly, prosecuting, said: "Horwich and Farnworth are particularly bad areas for people setting fire to bins, and they are becoming an increasingly dangerous hazard to residents.

"One third of fire calls in Farnworth are related to bin fires, and firefighters received up to 100 calls in one month when the problem was at its worst."

She added there have been occasions when firefighters have been called to a bin fire at the expense of attending more serious incidents.

It is estimated the cost of attending a bin fire is £1,900, and they cost the fire service up to £3 million each year across the country.