Dark smoke which polluted the air has cost one business hundreds of pounds in court.

Earls Avenue Limited - a property development company - has been forced to pay out after one of its contractors started a bonfire containing waste from a housing renovating.

The Folkestone air was filled with dark smoke which was categorised as level four out of five on the Ringelmann chart - a scale used to define dark smoke.

Anything darker than two is an offence.

Officers from Folkestone and Hythe District Council were alerted to the smoke at a property in Radnor Park Crescent on February 3 this year by a member of the public.

Inspectors attended and witnessed a lightbulb exploding on the flaming bonfire - which also contained metal and wood - in the back garden.

It was being marshalled by contractors working on behalf of the defendant.

The company pleaded guilty to the offence of omitting dark smoke from industrial or trade premises, contrary to the Clean Air Act 1993.

Appearing before Folkestone Magistrates' Court earlier this month, Earls Avenue Limited was ordered to pay a fine and costs totalling £780.

Cllr Stuart Peall, cabinet member for enforcement, regulatory services, waste & building control at FHDC, said: "All of the waste was produced from the renovation of a property and should have been disposed of in a safe and considerate way.

"This successful prosecution is a warning to businesses that believe they can get away with damaging our local environment without having to face the consequences."

Council leader Cllr David Monk added: "Here we have yet another example of residents and the council working together for the benefit of our district.

"Reporting matters like this to the council means we can investigate and take appropriate action, so we're grateful to the resident for getting in touch about this incident."