A waste disposal company has been fined for illegally storing asbestos.

Aspect Contracts Limited, of Roedean Road, Brighton, admitted four charges of storing the potentially deadly substance in its Brighton depot.

Brighton magistrates yesterday imposed a fine of £8,000 and ordered the company to pay £1,587 towards costs.

Speaking after the hearing, environment officer Abigail Whittle said: "Asbestos is a dangerous substance. As a licensed carrier of asbestos, this company should have been fully aware of the risks of disposing of it in this way. Waste management licences are in place to impose strict criteria to protect the environment and human health. Waste sites such as this are not controlled.

"It is illegal, irresponsible and antisocial to operate one and we will continue to take action against anyone caught doing so."

The Environment Agency began the prosecution after an anonymous tip-off.

Inspectors visited the depot in October last year and found bags of mixed waste, including asbestos.

The court heard Aspect was one of the leading asbestos removal companies in the UK and had a previous good record of responsible storage and disposal.

Its directors were unaware waste had been illegally stored by their Brighton manager John Pringle.

He had taken asbestos back to the depot on two occasions when legal arrangements to transport it to sites in Peterborough and Canvey Island, Essex, fell through.

Deborah Sharbles, speaking in mitigation, told the court: "Only one sample was found to have asbestos proper in it. The material was double-bagged as it should have been and it was in a locked facility. There was minimal risk because all the people who had access had knowledge of asbestos and how to handle it. Mr Pringle thought it would be safer kept there."

Ms Sharbles said had Mr Pringle phoned his bosses he would have been given an alternative course of action to take, such as getting an emergency licence from the Environment Agency.

She said: "Mr Pringle has been interviewed by the directors and is aware of the seriousness of the offence."

Magistrate Bryan Moody said the court had taken into account Aspect Contracts' previous good record, the mitigating factors of the offence, the action it had taken with Mr Pringle following the offence and its guilty plea.