TWO people have been given hefty fines – for leaving their gardens in a mess.

And housing officials have pledged to continue to take tough action against people who don’t keep their gardens up to scratch.

The warning follows hearings at Dewsbury magistrates’ court. Both residents had refused to clear up their gardens and ignored repeated requests and notices to remove the rubbish.

Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing (KNH) referred cases against Rose Marie Carr, of Hazel Crescent, Chickenley, and Karen Shaw of Hightown, Liversedge, to the council’s Environmental Services department, as part of their commitment to taking a firm line against tenancy breaches.

Both were handed Fixed Penalty Notices but ignored them and both were taken to court.

Miss Carr did not attend the hearing at Dewsbury Magistrates Court but the court found the matter proved in her absence. She was fined £874 with a £15 victim surcharge and clean-up and legal costs of £554.

Miss Shaw also failed to attend court and in her absence was fined £875, with an additional £467.12 costs, £156.70 legal costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Clr Shabir Pandor, the council’s cabinet member for housing, said: "We work hard to educate people before going down the prosecution route and also offer a free collection service for waste.

"We will not tolerate people ignoring the law that is there to protect and benefit the majority of residents who wish to live in a clean and healthy neighbourhood.

"These cases clearly show that we will not hesitate to take action."

Paul Buckley, KNH’s director of neighbourhoods, said: "Prosecutions like these show that KNH is determined that our estates are not going to be spoiled by people who refuse to look after their gardens.

"The council offers a free bulky rubbish collection service so there is no excuse for people using their gardens as dumping grounds.

"Untidy, rubbish-filled gardens don’t just reflect badly on the people who live in the property; they can make the whole area look bad and undermine the efforts of the majority of tenants and residents who take pride in their homes and their gardens."

Anyone wishing to report fly tipping or littering or who is experiencing a problem with waste in a garden should call 01484 223156. The council’s bulky waste collection service can be contacted on 01484 414700.