The high cost of bin charges is making it increasingly tempting for people living in rural areas to dump their waste illegally instead of paying for it to be taken away.

March 23-30

Social workers did not come to a weekend court appearance of a 14-year-old boy who has been missing from care for 10 weeks because they only provided a Monday to Friday service, a judge heard today.

A 15-year-old repeat offender, who has a litany of convictions for burglaries, has been given a four month sentence for a trespassing offence.