WOMEN who failed to appear in court after dumping rubbish bags in Widnes have been fined.

Clare Louise Philips, of Foster Street, and Ana Bale, of Allerton Road, were set to appear at Warrington Magistrates' Court on Wednesday March 13.

Philips was reported dumping bin bags and household waste in the entry to the rear of her home on numerous occasions over a four month period in 2018.

After an investigation carried out by the Halton Borough Council’s waste and environmental improvement enforcement team, Phillips was asked to attend two formal interviews to discuss any involvement that she may have had with the waste being left there.

She failed to attend either interview or make any contact with the council.

As a result, notice was served on her to attend a recorded interview, held under caution.

She failed to attend this interview and was summonsed to appear in court.

Phillips did not do so and the court agreed to hear the case in her absence.

She was found guilty and received a £1,024 fine.

Bale was also reported committing a similar offence by dumping bin bags in the entry to the rear of Allerton Road on May 16.

Following a short investigation by the waste and environmental improvement enforcement team, Bale was invited to attend an interview on July 17 but failed to attend or contact the council.

She was served notice to attend an interview on August 21 but did not and was summonsed to appear in court.

Again Bale failed to attend and she was found guilty in her absence, receiving a £740 fine.