A CHARNOCK Richard farmer has been fined after the badly decomposed bodies of 19 cattle were found on his premises.

Lancashire's Trading Standards department took action against Kenneth Heaps, 38, who pleaded guilty in court to failing to dispose of dead cattle and record-keeping offences.

Leyland magistrates heard that in September last year, animal health and welfare inspectors went to the farm in Church Lane following a complaint.

They discovered the dead cattle in various farm buildings.

The court was told how rotting carcases can spread disease to other livestock and scavenging animals and lead to the contamination of surrounding land and water.

When live cattle were examined many had no ear tags while others had not been properly registered. The court also heard that Heaps had not kept a movement book for his stock and that cattle identity papers, introduced to help the authorities deal with emergencies such as BSE and foot and mouth disease, could not be found.

Apologising to the court Heaps, admitted that he had flouted the law and had buried his head in the sand when other pressures had got too much for him.

He said following a long-running legal battle he now faced considerable debts that might result in the loss of the farm. He also said that the trading standards had helped him to put matters back on track and assured the court that he was genuinely remorseful for what had happened.

Passing sentence, magistrates told Heaps that despite his financial difficulties a very serious penalty was necessary to demonstrate the public's displeasure.

In total he was fined £1,000 for the carcase offence and was conditionally discharged for two years for the record-keeping contraventions.

He was also ordered to pay £1,000 towards the cost of bringing the prosecution.

Chief trading standards officer, Jim Potts, said: "Livestock farmers owe it to themselves, their neighbours, and the community to dispose of dead animals immediately and ensure that they comply with the law."