A tipper truck company which dumped waste illegally on farmland has been ordered to pay £100,000 in financial penalties.

Family-run CC Haulage took lorryloads of earth to farms near Okehampton, Crediton and Tedburn St Mary.

The farmers all had permission to dispose of up to 1,000 tons of waste but the company dumped more than seven times that much at some of the four sites.

The offences took place at Beech Down Farm, Tedburn St Mary, Shortacombe Farm, Yeoford, Creedy Manor, Crediton, and Mount Boon Farm at Longdown.

The company is run by director Colin Clarke, aged 59, and his wife Deborah and is based at Colebrooke, near Crediton.

It admitted four offences of illegal disposal of non-hazardous waste and was fined a total of £14,000 with £5,000 costs and a £90,000 confiscation order by Judge Geoffrey Mercer, QC, at Exeter Crown Court.

The judge said the offences were more negligent than reckless and noted the company had no previous convictions.

Mr Dylan Sadler, prosecuting, said the offences came to light when an Environment Agency officer noticed that around 7,800 tons of waste had been dumped at Tedburn St Mary.

The farmer had obtained permission from an online form to allow disposal of 1,000 tons of waste but the dumping had exceeded the permit.

The other sites were traced through paperwork from the company. The company had benefited financially by paying the farmers less than they were charging their clients.

One farmer was paid £32 for allowing them to empty a small lorry and £40 for a six-wheel tipper.

Mr David Campbell, defending, said both the company and the farmers had been confused by the wording on the Environment Agency website, which had now been clarified.

He said the firm believed the farmers had the necessary permits but accepted their guilt because they should have checked them.

They are now paying an independent company to ensure they comply with the law.