ACOMPANY has been ordered to remove waste dumped into ponds at a Bolton farm.

J Doyle Ltd, of Gaskell Street, Bolton, appeared at the town’s magistrates for tipping waste into ponds at Barton Fold Farm in Lostock.

Pri Peruma, prosecuting, told the court that the company had an exemption to fill the ponds with minerals.

But the Environment Agency was told by two separate sources that the materials were not acceptable under the exemption and were being deposited as landfill, she said.

William Nuttall, manager of the company, pleaded guilty to contravening a regulation on an environmental permit.

A charge of submitting controlled waste likely to cause pollution or harm to human health was withdrawn.

David Walton, defending, said: “The ponds were dug 20 years ago to farm trout fish. It became necessary to refill it because it was becoming a risk to trespassers. Children walk down there because it is close to the railway line.

“Less than one per cent of material tipped is actually a problem in terms of complying with the regulation.”

Magistrates ordered that the waste should be removed by September 30, which is when the company will be sentenced. The maximum fine for the offence is £50,000.

Mr Nuttall said after the case: “This site is an old landfill and contains a mixture of waste materials.

“J Doyle Ltd has been involved in talks with the Agency to resolve the situation. We have reached an agreement which the Agency and ourselves are happy with.”