GARDEN centre owners have been taken to court for failing to comply with enforcement notices served by council officials.

Rochford Council has served Fairways Garden Centre in Rayleigh with two notices since 2010 for allegedly operating a paving company out of the business, and the "stationing of caravans for residential use."

The garden centre, on Hullbridge Road, was served with a second enforcement notice in 2017, which the council say was not fully complied with.

Three defendants from the garden centre were all convicted at Southend Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Council bosses are delighted at the convictions after "several attempts" to get the business to comply to planning laws fell on deaf ears.

Ian Ward, councillor in charge of planning, said: "This is a great result for the council and demonstrates that non-compliance with enforcement notices in respect of planning permission across the district will not be tolerated and action will be taken.”

The case has been adjourned to Basildon Crown Court to deal with confiscation of criminal proceeds.