AN Accrington landlord has been fined for ignoring council bosses who ordered him to improve the state of a garage he owned.

Syed Belal Uddin was convicted of failing to comply with a notice served by Hyndburn Council at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court recently. The notice required works to a garage at the rear of West Crescent in Accrington.

The 38-year-old originally pleaded not guilty, but changed his plea to guilty ahead of a trial.

He did not attend the hearing so the court dealt with matter in his absence.

He was fined £265 plus £26.50 victim surcharge. He was also ordered to contribute £250 to council’s costs.

Deputy leader of Hyndburn Council, Coun Clare Pritchard, said: “We take a tough line on people who fail to bring their properties to a decent state of repair.”