A Croydon-based property developer has settled a bill with Somerset Council over works carried out to the Rockwell Green water towers after the Wellington Weekly intervened to highlight the issue.

Mr Anwar Ansari racked up a debt thought to run into thousands of pounds after the local authority stepped in to cut back vegetation which appeared to threaten the heritage assets.

Mr Ansari purchased the iconic towers from Wessex Water at an auction in 2013, and has since come under fire from heritage groups, residents and councillors over his ownership of the site.

After council workers carried out their works, Mr Ansari was billed for the work, and at first failed to pay the full amount, despite owning a property portfolio worth a reported £170 million.

The Wellington Weekly approached Mr Ansari's firm, AA Homes, in November, after Somerset Council gave notice they had instructed debt recovery agents to take action.

Despite reportedly not having been in contact with the council in months, the firm contacted the council soon afterward, and it has now emerged the debt has been settled in full.