A SHOPKEEPER has appeared in court for piling up rubbish at the back of his store.

Mahendra Keshwala, trading as Harpurhey Shopper, pleaded guilty to three counts of storing waste incorrectly during a prosecution brought by Manchester council at Manchester Magistrates' Court.

He was fined £100 for each offence, and was ordered to pay costs of £250 along with a £15 victims of crime surcharge.

A council manager contacted Keshwala after spotting the rubbish behind his Rochdale Road shop, including overflowing bins, piles of cardboard boxes and wooden pallets.

The council served a notice on him last November, telling him how to dispose of the rubbish, but the same problems were seen on four other visits.

Keshwala was offered a fixed penalty notice, which he refused to accept, and was also invited to give his side of the story, but he did not turn up.

Coun Paul Andrews said: "Businesses have a responsibility to make sure their rubbish is disposed of correctly."