A supermarket has been fined more than �30,000 in the first case of its kind for knowingly allowing shopping trolleys to be dumped in a river.

Tesco has been ordered to pay a fine and costs totalling �37,517 for knowing and permitting trolleys to be dumped in the River Chelmer in Chelmsford, Essex.

The Environment Agency said it brought the case against the supermarket chain after 33 Tesco trolleys were found in the river during a clean-up operation.

On 6 August the store pleaded guilty at Witham Magistrates Court, but the matter was referred to Chelmsford Crown Court for sentencing.

Reducing river use

The court heard how officers from the Environment Agency Anglian Region took part in an organised "Spring Clean" of the river on Saturday 10 April 1999.

The Environment Agency said that during the clean-up 51 trolleys were removed, 33 of which belonged to Tesco.

Previously concerns had been raised by the Environment Agency and Chelmsford Borough Council about the number of discarded shopping trolleys in the river in Chelmsford town centre.

The agency said the trolleys were seriously reducing the ways in which local residents and river users, including Sea Scouts, a canoe club and fisherman, could enjoy the river.

The prosecution was brought by the Environment Agency for offences between 17 May 2000 and 8 August 2000 and also between April 1999 and April 2000.