Garage owner slapped with £1,400 worth of fines after leaving eight abandoned vans.

The council issued Fixed Penalty Notices to the garage owner for leaving the vans in these conditions in Tilbury, which is a criminal offence.

This was in response to public complaints about vehicles on the public highway in Lansdowne Road, Tilbury.

The vehicles were parked "bumper to bumper" making it difficult for children and parents from Lansdown Primary Academy to cross the road.

Councillor Aaron Watkins, responsible for the environment, said: “We take these complaints very seriously.

“The untaxed vehicles were unsightly with broken windows and missing doors. They were parked bumper to bumper causing school children and parents  from Lansdowne Primary Academy difficulties crossing the road safely."

"Thurrock Council has invested over an extra £1 million of taxpayers money into making our streets cleaner and we will not tolerate them being used as a dumping ground.

"I would advise any other business in the borough who thinks this action is acceptable to think again.

“The owner of the garage was issued with 8 fixed penalty notices, totalling £1,400 in fines.

"We will continue to use all the powers we have at our disposal to keep our streets tidy and to hit those people who want to spoil them in the pocket.”

For more information on clean it, cut it, fill it, go to: thurrock.gov.uk/cleancutfill