A company operating an illegal waste plant without an environmental permit has been slapped with a £19,000 bill.

David Feely, director of Feely Skip & Grab Hire, was renting land in Worcester Park for parking and storage, but instead had set up a small waste transfer station to deal with construction and demolition waste.

Guildford Crown Court heard on Monday the site, at the Old Mill, Old Malden Lane, was being used to store 4,000 tonnes of construction demolition waste and at least 17 skips of builders waste including plastic piping, carpet off-cuts, wooden panels, paper and cardboard.

During an interview with environment agency officers Mr Feely admitted that he intended to clear the site quicker, but the waste had got out of hand.

Mr Feely pleaded not guilty and his offence was left on the file in view of the guilty plea by his company.

His Honour Judge Critchlow fined the company £10,000, ordered it to pay £9,000 towards the prosecutions costs, and imposed a victim surcharge of £120.

Alan Cansdale, Environment Agency environment manager, said: "The court heard today how waste crime can undermine legitimate businesses.

"The company took in waste inappropriately, and the site posed a risk to the local environment.

"Mr Feely was warned by his landlord on two previous occasions that he was breaking the law.

"In cases like this, where individuals or businesses operate illegally, the Environment Agency has no hesitation in prosecuting."