A SCRAP dealer from Trowbridge was fined £5,000 for pollution offences.

Terence Shanley of EJ Shanley and Sons pleaded guilty to allowing smoke to be emitted from a scrap yard at Green Lane when he appeared before magistrates in Chippenham on May 28.

The prosecution was brought by West Wiltshire District Council after complaints were received from residents living near the yard about the smoke.

Principal environmental health officer Kate Bishop said: "As an authority, we received a considerable number of complaints each year about local businesses emitting dark smoke from their premises.

"Hopefully this will send out an unequivocal message to those businesses that commit offences under the Clean Air Act 1993 that we are actively protecting the environment of our residents and that offenders will be investigated and prosecuted."

Shanley was also ordered to pay costs of £1,078.