LEE Averies, 46, of Wanborough, is likely to face trial next year after denying a number of environmental offences.

He and his brother David, 29, of Dydale Road, have each been charged with a total of six offences relating to their time as directors of waste companies in Swindon.

Due to the amount of evidence it is expected that any trial will last at least a month and have to take place in Bristol.

All of the charges relate to two sites which saw major fires break out between November 2013 and July 2014.

Brindley Close, which was the site of Swindon Skips, saw a fire burn for several days.

And last summer another fire at Averies Recycling, based at Marshgate, was alight for two months while fire crews tried to tackle it.

The Environment Agency alleges that both the brothers breached the conditions of their permit needed to operate the sites.

Among the charges are that the sites had inadequate security to prevent anyone gaining access and that too much waste was being stored at the sites.

There is no suggestion that either brother started the fires.