A man who paid a company to dispose of rubbish has been fined £300 after it was found dumped in a country lane.

The naive Whitstable resident forked out to clear the waste, but did not ask for an invoice or receipt from the firm.

He also failed to check if it was licensed.

The rubbish was later found piled high in Denstroude Lane, Blean.

Canterbury City Council fined the man £300 for failing in his duty of care.

The authority also fined a woman from Deal £400 after she was seen by a member of the public dumping garden waste in Adisham.

Check if waste collectors are licensed at environment.data.gov.uk.

Read more: All the latest news from Whitstable