WILTSHIRE County Council portfolio holder for planning and waste Toby Sturgis has spoken of his delight at being acquitted of illegally dumping 37 tonnes of asbestos.

The senior Tory had to went through a two-day trial at Chippenham Magistrates' Court this week accused of burying the waste on an olt tip at Brook Farm, Great Somerford.

The asbestos came from three barns he had sold for development.

Under law at the time, farmers could bury hazardous waste on their land from buildings used for agricultural purposes.

The Environment Agency claimed they were no longer used for agriculture, but magistrates disagreed.

Speaking afterwards, Coun Sturgis said: "I am absolutely delighted that, after 18 months, I have been proved correct in my judgement."

He said he felt that, whatever way you looked at it, the case had been brought because of who he is.

"I think it's a scandalous waste of taxpayers money for this to reach court," he said.

The taxpayer will now have to foot Coun Sturgis' legal bill, thought to be in the region of £50,000.

The court heard Coun Sturgis had phoned the Environment Agency helpline to check if he could dispose of the hazardous material.

He was told he could, but Environment Agency prosecutor Syan Ventom said he should have given more detail, done it in writing and spent more than 10p on a phone call to check.

But the Environment Agency case weakened when its own witness Andrew Brown, who was carrying out demolition work on the barns, confirmed they were being used for agricultural purposes.

Coun Sturgis said he had agreed to clear the asbestos for the developers that had bought the barns.

He said he also consulted a number of other organisations, including county council enforcement officers and the National Farmers' Union.

Mr Ventom said the barns had been cleared for demolition, so were not used for agricultural purposes.

Coun Sturgis' barrister Peter Wadsley replied: "What is supposed to happen? Was Mr Brown supposed to demolish the barn around the cows and do we issue them with hard hats?"

Mr Ventom said Coun Sturgis was trying to dispose of the waste on the cheap.

However Mr Wadsley said it was common sense the buildings were being used for agricultural purposes if they contained farming machinery.

Magistrates said Coun Sturgis should have told the Environment Agency the land had been sold for development, but there was no doubt they still had an agricultural use.