A man in Kidderminster has been sentenced to prison for running an illegal waste site.

Michael Wright has to spend six months in prison, has been suspended for 24 months and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

According to the Environment Agency, Mr Wright produced Hazardous Waste Consignment Notices (HWCNs) containing false information to customers from whom he collected waste oils.

Then he transported the oils to the site at at Smethwick Drop Forge to re-sell them.

When the Environment Agency officers visited the site, they found more than 3,000 litres of waste oil illegally stored in plastic and metal containers.

There were no measures in place to prevent the oil from reaching open water drains nearby in the event of a leak, it stated.

The Environment Agency officer in charge of the investigation said: “Waste crime is a serious offence with tough penalties as it can damage the environment, blight local communities and undermine those who operate legally. This case sends out a clear message that we will not hesitate to take action to ensure the protection of water supplies and the environment.”