A NORTH Somerset man has been fined over repeated cases of ‘nuisance’ bonfires in his garden.

The man, named by North Somerset Council as Mr Garvey, failed to comply with an abatement notice ordering him to stop causing a nuisance with smoke from his premises.

He was found guilty of the offence in his absence, fined £660 and ordered to pay costs of £2371.45 and a victim surcharge of £264.

North Somerset Council issues abatement notices when residents cause a statutory nuisance and will take court proceedings if these notices are ignored.

Cllr James Clayton, executive member for safety in the community, said: “Mr Garvey was given a clear notice to stop causing a nuisance with excessive bonfire smoke but chose to ignore this, so we were forced to progress the matter to court.

“The smoke which was acrid in nature was being regularly created by Mr Garvey when he was burning waste materials in his garden.”