A SKIP firm boss who allowed piles of waste more than 10 feet high to build up at his site has been fined.

Investigators from the Environment Agency also found more than 150 tonnes of mixed waste spilling out of a building at Alpha Skip Hire in Leigh.

Wigan magistrates were told the agency had served a number of enforcement notices on the Jury Street outfit.

Later when officers returned for a follow-up inspection, the court was told, the waste piles were still above permitted limits.

Frank Warburton, the environmental waste permit holder for Alpha, pleaded guilty to offences under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.

He was fined £861 and ordered to pay costs of £5,580 and a Victim surcharge of £86 by magistrates.

Agency officials say they offered repeated advice to Alpha throughout their inquiry before the prosecution was mounted.

Speaking after the court case, Mark Easedale, an Environment Agency area environment manager, said: “We are committed to taking robust enforcement action against those who break the law, to protect communities and the environment.

"In this case the defendant had consistently failed to respond to advice and guidance, warnings and statutory notices requiring action to be taken to improve operations at the site.

"Illegal waste sites undercut legitimate business, can cause severe damage to the environment and misery for residents and businesses."