AN ex-postmistress is facing fines of £370,000 after being convicted of illegally dumping rubbish.

Prosecutors said Kauser Waquar, former owner and postmistress of Cog Lane sub-post office, Burnley, turned herself in yesterday after a warrant was issued for her arrest when she failed to turn up in court.

Waquar was found guilty in her absence of 11 offences relating to deposit of waste from the post office, which shut this year and was now being run as a newsagents.

Prosecutor James Parry said she was facing fines of up to £370,000 or up to 12 months imprisonment, together with the prosecution costs and further criminal charges for failing to answer bail.

And anti-litter campaigners today welcomed the conviction and hoped it would stop people fly-tipping.

Peter Tarren, who lives in nearby Accrington Road and is a member of Burnley's clean team committee, said: "I have never heard of anyone being fined so much but this woman deserves everything she gets."

Bury magistrates heard that Waquar, 46, of Tranmere Avenue, Heywood, was too busy running the newsagents to attend the trial.

The court found she had caused or permitted her business waste to be deposited illegally at Queen Street, Bury, on May 19, 2005 and then illegally at the Tesco recycling station, Prestwich, last May, June and July.