ENTREPRENEUR Thomas Rothschild was due to appear in court yesterday accused of dumping asbestos-laden waste in a field near Westbury.

The Environment Agency has charged Rothschild's Trowbridge-based company, RH Tomlinssons, with eight counts of breaking waste management licence conditions.

Rothschild's development company, which is based at Pumpkins Tower, in Bythesea Road, Trowbridge, is alleged to have dumped waste containing asbestos in a field near Westbury between October 19 and November 5 last year.

Some of the waste assessed by Environment Agency officials included corrugated roofing sheets containing the deadly asbestos spores.

Strict guidelines governing the disposal of asbestos-laced material are enforced by the Environment Agency under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

The case was adjourned on September 9.

Rothschild was due to make pleas at a Trowbridge Magistrates' Court hearing yesterday.