YORKSHIRE WATER has prosecuted an East Yorkshire firm - for leaving a plastic tag in the office.

Perminder Kaur, for the company, said that RK & CE Smallwood (Contractors) should have attached the tag to a standpipe in Common Lane, Sutton-on-Derwent.

The tag confirmed that the Sutton-on-Derwent firm had paid for a licence and had permission to draw water from the roadside.

But when a Yorkshire Water employee spotted a lorry loading up with the standpipe, there was no tag in sight. It was still at the office.

So Yorkshire Water brought the firm before York magistrates on a charge of breaching regulations.

Charles Edward Smallwood, of Sutton-on-Derwent, a partner in the firm, pleaded guilty.

For Smallwood, Jonathan Cripwell said the company specialised in road sweeping and other roadside work.

Its management had had difficulty interpreting the regulations.

Magistrates spent more than 30 minutes reading the regulations and considering his punishment.

On their return to court they said the rules were ambiguous. Smallwood was conditionally discharged for 12 months and ordered to pay £498 prosecution costs.

Updated: 09:48 Friday, March 14, 2003