VIRGIN Media Ltd has been hit with a massive court bill for twice flouting safety rules during work in a street in Bridgwater.

The company, whose address was given as Brook Drive, Reading, was ordered to pay a total of £27,370.56 at a hearing in Taunton Magistrates' Court on Thursday (December 1).

Virgin pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to comply with the provisions of the Safety at Street Works and Road Works Code of Practice 2013 during a scheme in Weacombe Road, Bridgwater.

The charges related to works on March 10 this year and again the following day and were in contravention of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.

The company was fined £12,000 for each breach. It was also ordered to pay a £190 victim surcharge and £3,180.56 prosecution costs

Two further charges of allegedly using 'Give and Take' traffic management instead of 'Stop and Go' traffic management as agreed with the street authority were withdrawn.