TWO landlords received fines totalling nearly £5,000 after failing to address potentially harmful issues in their St Helens properties.

Adrian Webb of Mill Lane, Rainhill, and Robert Essex of Westcliff Road, Birkdale, both pleaded guilty at Liverpool and Knowsley Magistrates' Court of failing to comply with improvement notices issued by St Helens Council under the Housing Act.

Webb was fined £2,500, ordered to pay £1,332.30 in costs and a victim surcharge of £120, after his failure to investigate and remedy damp problems at his property in West End Road, Haydock.

Webb pleaded guilty by letter and apologised - assuring the court that he would work with the council to bring the house up to the required standard and promised it would remain empty until authorities were satisfied he had fulfilled his obligations.

Essex, who also pleaded guilty by letter, was fined £250 for each of two offences, with notices being issued in July last year, relating to his house in Price Grove, St Helens.

He failed to install a step in the backyard, and to overhaul flagging and remove tripping hazards.

As well as the fines - totalling £500 - he was ordered to pay £500 towards costs and a £50 victim surcharge.

Essex, who told the court that he had six properties in St Helens, said he had not received the notices and had been experiencing personal and financial difficulties.