A farmer has told a jury that he did not allow the dumping of waste on his land without a permit.

Richard Bourne, 66, insisted nothing found by the Environment Agency at Queenfield Farm in Forest, near Melksham, was put there illegally.

Bourne is on trial at Swindon Crown Court along with company Melksham Metal Recycling and its owner Lee Hazel, 45.

All three deny the disposal of controlled waste without a permit or exemption at the farm off Woodrow Road in 2011 and 2012.

It is alleged that piles of stone rubble and builders' waste was found on the farm when investigators visited.

On one occasion a lorry from Melksham Metal Recycling arrived at the site where the driver handed something to Bourne.

Giving evidence the farmer said it was money which was handed to him for a tractor he had sold to Hazel and his company.

And he said anything found on his farm had been from work carried out to buildings there or from the land, which he claims used to be a council tip.

Andrew Marshall, prosecuting, said: "The truth is you have been allowing people to dump on your land, including Mr Hazel and Melksham Metal," to which Boure replied "No".

Bourne pleaded not guilty to operating a regulated facility without a permit at the farm on or before May 21, 2012, without an environmental permit.

Hazel, of Pembroke Road, Melksham, and the company deny disposing of controlled waste without a permit.

The case continues.