A carpenter has been fined after off-cuts from kitchen units were found dumped at a beauty spot.

John Chinchen, of Carden Hill, Brighton, pleaded guilty to an offence under the Environment Protection Act. He was fined £250 with £540 costs.

Len Batten, prosecuting for Brighton and Hove Council, told Brighton magistrates yesterday how the off-cuts and other rubbish was found on open ground at the top of Bear Road at the junction with Warren Road, Brighton.

Envelopes found amongst the items led officers to an address in Bear Road where Chinchen, who runs JMS Carpentry, was fitting a new kitchen.

Chinchen told the court he paid a man £20 to take the waste away and thought it would be disposed of properly.

Chinchen's solicitor Duncan Cook said his client was shocked when he learnt it had been fly-tipped.