A couple have been fined for leaving building materials piled up in their eyesore front garden for months on end.

Salinder Minhas and Parminder Minhas, of Alderton Close, Loughton, were prosecuted by Epping Forest Council for failing to clear rubbish from both the front and rear of their property.

The pair were served with a notice in November 2017 to clear up the mess after neighbours had complained.

Building materials, paint pots, plastic items and cardboard had been piled up in the gardens and even stored on the flat roof of their garage.

Despite warnings, the pair failed to comply and were taken to court by the council over the matter.

They appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on Thursday, where they both pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the notice served on them by the local authority last year.

Magistrates fined Mr Minhas £110 and ordered him to pay £308 towards the council’s prosecution costs, together with a victim surcharge of £30.

Mrs Minhas was fined £100 and ordered to pay costs of £308 and a victim surcharge of £30.

An Epping Forest Council spokesman said: “Having seen the photographs taken by the council, the magistrate told Mr and Mrs Minhas that he was not surprised that neighbours had complained about the state of the property.

“The council had quite rightly brought the prosecution having given them every opportunity to clear the land.

“Mr and Mrs Minhas informed the court that they would now fully comply with the notice.”

The pair face another £100 fine if they still fail to remove the rubbish from their garden.