ASBESTOS-riddled building debris was found dumped at the entrance to a popular tourist attraction, Jedburgh Sheriff Court heard last week.

Police officers who came across the 10-ton pile of demolition waste containing the hazardous material soon discovered it came from a house four miles away which was being renovated.

Donald McAllister - who runs a roofing, joinery and building firm - claimed he gave a man £700 to dispose of the debris.

But instead it was taken from the village of Lanton and dumped four miles away at the entrance to the Harestanes Countryside Visitor Centre near Ancrum on the B6400 road close to the A68.

At Jedburgh Sheriff Court McAllister, 46, pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to take proper steps to dispose of the building waste under the Environmental Protection Act.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said it was unfortunate the offence could only attract the maximum penalty of a fine and that further sanctions were not available.

He deferred sentence until next month to allow McAllister to provide a full set of accounts from his business RJB and documentation from the job of re-placing the roof of the property in Lanton.

Prosecutor Keith Jones from the Crown office's wildlife and environment crime unit described how the Harestanes Countryside Visitor Centre was a popular attraction with families and dog walkers and at the time of the offence, July 23, was busy due to the school holidays.

He said the police received a call about a pile of roofing debris had been dumped at the entrance and they inspected the site.

Samples were taken and it was later confirmed it contained white asbestos called chrysolite which is hazardous.

Scottish Borders Council were called in to remove the demolition waste to a special site with the bill coming to £1,768.80.

Mr Jones said it was established the building material had come from a house in Lanton which was having its roof replaced and spoke to the owner who confirmed McAllister was carrying out the work and was to be paid £8,500 in cash for the week's work.

He continued: "Police were able to trace the suspect and he was taken to Hawick Police Station where he was interviewed regarding the matter and made a full and frank confession.

As owner of the business and an employer he was responsible for the proper disposal of hazardous asbestos and roofing debris."

McAllister said he had paid a Charlie O'Connor to take the debris away from the house at Lanton.

But Mr Jones added it was the Crown's understanding that McAllister made no enquiry as to where the demolition waste was being taken and he had a duty of care to ensure O'Connor had the appropriate licence to allow him to remove the debris.

The court heard that McAllister , who lives at his wife's caravan park in Bonnybridge , Stirlingshire, and plans to set up a new business in Ireland, had a previous conviction for dishonesty.

Defence lawyer Ed Hulme said:"He accepts he did not make the necessary enquiries to ensure the proper disposal of the waste. It is his position he paid this man £700 to take it away."