A man has been convicted of dumping rubbish sacks in a Hertford street after council officials traced him by examining the contents.

Steven Croucher of Townshend Street was found guilty at Hertford Magistrates Court and fined £50. He was also ordered to pay £500 towards prosecution costs.

In February last year and again in April council staff found two black bags left by a litter bin in Railway Street. They checked the contents and traced them back to Mr. Croucher.

Despite receiving three letters from the council, including one sent recorded delivery and signed for, Croucher failed to turn up for an interview, so a warrant was issued, ordering him to attend court.

At the court hearing Croucher pleaded not guilty, saying he couldn't explain how his rubbish had been found in Railway Street, unless dustmen had dropped it there. However, magistrates were not convinced by his explanation and found him guilty.

Police have arrested four people from Hertford in connection with drug dealing and burglary.

Officers from Hertford and Ware’s Safer Neighbourhood Teams and the Tactical Team executed warrants on Tuesday and Wednesday (January 18 and 19).

During searches of addresses, officers seized items such as cash, electronic goods and jewellery.

Sergeant Andrew Palfreyman of the Hertford and Ware Safer Neighbourhood Team said: "This operation was aimed at disrupting a range of criminality across East Herts and I am pleased with its outcome."

The four arrested were bailed by police until February.

... another opens. Sweet Herts in Fore Street are closing at the end of January after just six months in their Fore Street outlet. The remaining stock, fixtures and fittings are currently being sold off.

Meanwhile in Post Office Walk, another sweet shop has opened opposite the Post Office, specialising in Belgian chocolates, but also selling jarred sweets.

Parking charges in Hertford will be frozen for the next financial year, following a meeting of the District Council's Executive Committee on Tuesday.

Prices for parking in the town will remain at 80p for the first hour and 70p per hour thereafter until April 2012.

The freeze will mean a 4.2% reduction in income for the council. Executive Councillors said they felt it was "the right and sensible thing to do". Their recommendation must now go to Full Council on February 23.

At the meeting, council leader Tony Jackson said he believed the business community and users of town centre car parks – shoppers and workers – would welcome the news. "It would be a sensible move to consider freezing charges next year and we would therefore absorb the costs of the increase in VAT and in inflation. We can afford to do this and to do so in a sustainable way. It would be the right thing to do in these economic times."

And Cllr Michael Tindale, Executive member for finance and resources, said: "Economic development is one of our priorities and that's why we're proposing swallowing the VAT increase and the loss of income."

Popular pantomime Aladdin opens tonight at the Hertford Theatre for a five day run.

See Widow Twankey, Noodles the Panda and PC Pong getting up to all sorts of mischief in this hilarious verion of the traditional pantomime, presented by Hertford Dramatic & Operatic Society.

Tickets start at £10 and are available from the Hertford Theatre box office on 01992 531500.

Aladdin runs until Sunday 16th January.

A new gents hairdresser has opened in South Street.

Handsome Heads opened at the end of December in premises that were formerly occupied by Hairline.