A home owner has been fined more than £500 after piling up rubbish in his front garden.

Haringey Council sent an officer to investigate after being alerted to the mess at the house in St Ann's Road, Tottenham, four months ago.

The homeowner was issued with a notice on June 12 under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to remove the refuse within 28 days.

But on July 11 the rubbish was still there and the owner was warned that legal action would be taken.

The case was heard on September 22 at Haringey magistrates court but the owner failed to attend the hearing. Magistrates fined the defendant £265, plus £250 costs.

Councillor Nilgun Canver, cabinet member for enforcement and safer communities, said: “Nobody wants to live next door to someone who leaves this kind of mess in the garden.

“It is right that we take action to ensure rubbish like this is removed and I congratulate our enforcement officers for seeing this through. The council can arrange to pick up rubbish for a very reaonable fee so there is no excuse for this.”