A BARBER from Bushey who dumped his customers' hair in the village has been fined £1,000.

Daniel "Dee" Johnson, of Little Grove, pleaded guilty to flytipping after ditching black bags filled with hair, along with domestic rubbish including rotting food and dirty nappies, in a service road behind shops in Harcourt Road.

Officers from Hertsmere Borough Council discovered the waste in February.

Originally Johnson, who owns Dee's Cuts in Market Street, Watford, was scheduled to appear at St Albans Magistrates' Court on Monday, June 20, but did not attend.

The 25-year-old was subsequently arrested in his shop and bailed to appear on Wednesday, August 17, when he was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay a further £1,500 for legal costs.

Although he pleaded guilty in court, speaking after the case, Johnson said: "A person who worked for me was dumping the stuff.

"I've sacked them now you can't have people like that working for you. I feel like I've been stitched up, but the stuff was from my shop, so I've just had to take it on the chin."

The council is currently taking a hard line with flytippers.

In addition to the court action, two other people have recently received formal cautions, including one for dumping household waste in Otterspool Way, Bushey.

A change in the law has upped the penalty for fly-tipping to a maximum fine of £50,000, or up to 5 years imprisonment.

People who require advice on the disposal of waste can telephone the waste aware helpline on 08457 425000, or log onto www.wasteaware.org.uk.

Hertsmere residents can also obtain advice from the council by telephoning 020 8207 2277.