Virgin Media has been ordered to pay more than £6,000 after being found guilty of endangering the public while repairing broadband cables.

The company admitted to blocking the pavement while working at the junction of Silver Street and Baker Street on August 21, forcing the public to walk in a busy road.

Magistrates ordered the telecommunications firm to pay a £2,000 fine, £4,000 costs and a £120 victim surcharge at Islington Magistrates’ Court on June 30, following prosecution by Enfield Council.

The telephone, television and internet company accepted it had breached safety requirements and said action had since been taken to prevent similar situations from happening.

Enfield Council’s cabinet member for environment and community safety Councillor Chris Bond said: “We appreciate that companies have to carry out routine maintenance work and we try hard to make life as easy for companies to reduce disruption for both them and residents while these works are being done.

“We won’t tolerate companies endangering residents through ill-conceived or dangerous work sites and we’ll prosecute whenever we think it is necessary."