A UTILITY firm has been fined £3,000 after pleading guilty to three offences relating to unauthorised roadworks.

Somerset County Council prosecuted Bristol Water after they went ahead with roadworks on South Road in Brean on June 21 despite being told not to due to high holiday traffic.

The utility firm also illegally closed St John's Street in Wells on June 13, 2016 and carried out works without the correct permission on Turnpike Road in Axbridge on July 3.

The charges relate to the Highways Act and New Roads and Street Works (NRSWA)Act.

The firm was sentenced at Taunton Magistrates on December 8 after earlier pleading guilty to the three charges.

They were given a £3,000 fine and ordered to pay £1,130 in costs and a £150 victim surcharge.

A spokesman for Somerset County Council said the authority does its best to plan ahead and avoid overlapping or clashing works and unauthorised works and road closures make this difficult job even harder.

Cllr John Woodman, Somerset County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “This prosecution sends a very clear message to anyone who works on the highway that we will not tolerate unauthorised roadworks.

“We receive around 85 requests for roadworks every single day and consider many factors when approving and co-ordinating these.

“Here we have three sets of roadworks which were not approved and caused avoidable disruption to the travelling public.

“This is not acceptable and I’m pleased we have been able to take immediate action.”