A father and son who dumped a lawnmower, tiles, and timber, on a garage site are 'lucky' not to be jailed, according to the judge who sentenced them.

Howard Levene, 61, and his son Ashley, 31, both of Horsecroft Road, Edgware, were photographed illegally dumping rubbish in Wetherby Road, Borehamwood, on September 16 last year.

The pair reportedly tried to dispose of the waste at household waste recycling centres in Borehamwood, Watford, and Potters Bar, but were advised they needed to take the waste to a commercial site and pay to get rid of it.

As it was a Sunday, no commercial sites were open, so they dumped the rubbish in Wetherby Road.

The waste comprised of broken furniture, pieces of timber, old carpet, a curtail rail, a lawn mower, old tools, broken tiles and copious small items of mixed waste.

Hertsmere Borough Council, which has pledged to crack down on flytippers, prosecuted the father and son and they were taken to court.

St Albans Magistrates Court heard how Howard Levene hired a Luton-bodied van from a company in Enfield and drove it to a garage his son was clearing in Rossington Avenue in Borehamwood.

Then after driving around failing to get rid of their rubbish, they returned to the town and dumped it.

They both pleaded guilty to one charge of flytipping and a duty of care offence after a hearing at the court on Monday.

Howard Levene was fined £320 with a victim surcharge of £32 and costs of £550 bringing his total to £902. Ashley Levene was given 100 hours unpaid work, a victim surcharge of £85 and costs of £550.

The magistrate said the flytippers were "lucky" not to have received a custodial sentence.

Two other people who assisted in the offence remain unidentified.

Councillor Seamus Quilty, responsible for the environment at Hertsmere Borough Council, said: "I am really pleased with the outcome of this court hearing and my thanks go to the member of public who provided us with evidence and the continued hard work of our environmental health team in tackling fly-tipping in Hertsmere.

"This case, in addition to previous successful convictions, sends a clear message that it is unacceptable to knowingly harm the environment with no consideration for the impact on the wider community."