A SOMERSET company has been hit with a huge court bill for breaching safety laws while carrying out street works near Taunton.

G. A. Doble (Civil Engineering) Ltd was found guilty at Taunton Magistrates' Court of flouting the law during the work in Heathfield Drive, Monkton Heathfield.

The case against the company, whose address was given as Hendford Manor, Yeovil, was proved in its absence from the court.

The court heard that the firm "executed street works on the maintainable highway while failing to comply with the provisions of the Safety at Street Works and Road Works Code of Practice".

G. A. Doble was reported by Somerset County Council for the two instances in the same road on March 17 this year.

It was fined £5,000 on each count and also ordered to pay costs of £1,350 and a victim surcharge of £189.99.

The total bill the company must pay comes to £11,539.00.