S&A Produce wanted to build a village for migrant workers

But a High Court judge said he would not send S&A Produce sole director Stanley Davies to prison.

Legal action started after Mr Davies put in windows at the workers' village built without planning permission at Brierley Court Farm, near Leominster.

He was also ordered to pay �11,489 in legal costs.

Mr Justice Stanley Burnton said Mr Davies must face a financial penalty "to make clear that injunctions must be obeyed, be you ever so large a business".

Swimming pool

Herefordshire Council said if the fine was not paid, it could apply for seizure of the company's assets.

S&A had started constructing a complex for migrant strawberry pickers, when it was denied retrospective planning permission by the council in May 2004.

The plans had included a swimming pool, library and internet cafe for the use of up to 1,400 migrant fruit pickers.

After obtaining an injunction to stop further works in 2004, Herefordshire Council went back to court when more than a dozen window units were installed.

Mr Davies claimed the windows were covered by an exemption allowing him to make safe any existing structures on health and safety grounds.

But the judge rejected his argument and ruled that installation of the windows was a contempt of court.

He ordered that the buildings be put back to their boarded-up state.