A Frizington man has convicted of storing a banned rat poison.

Keith Mingins, 57, of Main Street, appeared before magistrates in Workington and pleaded guilty to storing a chemical product containing carborufan, which was banned in the UK in 2001.

John Moran, prosecuting, said: "Police searched a storage unit and found a small container storing the item. It's a small amount."

Ian Nancollis, defending, said: "Unfortunately it's a case where people keep stuff in a shed for years and years and the regulations changed in the meantime."

Magistrates admitted it was an unusual case while delivering the sentence to Mingins, who was ordered to pay a £300 fine, £85 costs and a £30 surcharge.