The boss of a Melksham scrap metal business has appeared before a judge accused of operating without a permit.

Lee Hazel and his company Melksham Metal Recycling are accused of a number of permit offences, and the 45-year-old appeared at Swindon Crown Court with his colleague Richard Bourne.

They are being prosecuted by the Environment Agency for operating at Queenfield Farm and Station Yard waste sites without the correct permits.

Hazel and the company face eight counts, including one relating to permitting a water course at Station Yard to be polluted with oil, in the time leading up to May last year.

Bourne, 66, faces one count where stone sludge and other waste was allowed at Queenfield Farm without a permit.

No charges were formally put to the three defendants and no pleas were entered during the brief hearing.

Hazel, of Pembroke Road, Melksham, was released on unconditional bail to Friday January 31.

Bourne, of Lower Forest, Melksham, who was not at the hearing as was not aware it had been moved to a new date, had his bail extended to same day.