A woman has been fined for failing to clear up her eyesore gardens.

Heidi Dodd repeatedly ignored letters from Medway Council urging her to clear the mess to the front and back of her home in Napier Road, Gillingham.

Among the mound was overgrown shrubbery, rubbish and broken fence panels.

Following complaints from residents, the council wrote to 50-year-old Dodd on June 2 last year asking her to tidy up.

Officers visited the home on June 30 but found no work had been carried out, and when they wrote to her again, Dodd ignored the letters.

A team went back to the property on July 31 and again found the gardens untouched.

Dodd was then served a 215 notice giving her until October 2 to bring them to an acceptable standard, but when she failed to act, a court hearing was set at Medway Magistrates' Court for February 22.

Dodd, who now lives in Beresford Road, pleaded guilty by post and was ordered to pay a fine of £300, costs of £250 and a victim surcharge of £30.

The council's portfolio holder for enforcement Cllr Jane Chitty said: "Everyone has a responsibility to keep Medway clean and tidy and as this woman ignored our letters and the notice we were left with no choice but to take further action.

"This woman has now been ordered to pay hundreds of pounds which reflects the seriousness of her actions. We are committed to keeping Medway clean and tidy and will take action if our warnings are ignored."