THE boss of a waste firm that overshadowed people's homes in Brierley Hill has denied a charge of conspiracy to commit criminal damage.

Robert McNaughton, aged 50, director of Refuse Derived Fuel in Moor Street where a 40-foot mountain of rubbish built up, stood in the dock at Wolverhampton Crown Court with Joden Smith and Matthew Barker today (Wednesday).

The three men are alleged to have committed the offence between July 2014 and March 2015.

McNaughton, of Tenter Drive, Halesowen, will stand trial with his co-defendants on June 6 next year.

Smith, aged 19, of Herrick Road, Leicester, and 42-year-old Barker of Watford Road, also Leicester, also pleaded not guilty to the conspiracy charge.

McNaughton and Smith were both allowed conditional bail by Judge Michael Challinor while Barker was remanded in custody.

Peter Grice, prosecuting, told the judge their trial was expected to last for up to seven days at the crown court.