AN AREA has been branded a dumping ground for fly-tippers after a mountain of rubbish was found by a horrified passer-by.

Children’s toys, black bin bags filled with waste and white goods have been dumped by fly-tippers in Mill Hill, Blackburn.

The mess was discovered by a walker at the bottom of Bonsall Street on Thursday evening, and photographs also show paving slabs which have been removed.

It comes after similar concerns were raised by people about filthy streets in areas including Herschell Street, which the council said they were addressing.

The resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said Mill Hill was being ‘left to rot’ by the council.

She said: “I took the photos on Thursday evening from the end of Bonsall Street on the side nearest to the bridge leading over to Feniscowles field.

“They show the council have allowed the trees and bushes to become overgrown, the fencing is broken, pavement flags have been stolen and there is fly-tipping and litter behind the properties and fencing.

“Despite many calls and emails to councillors and the council’s health/cleansing team, nothing was done by them.

“We’ve asked for fly tipping/littering signs to be put up, back alley gates and CCTV as this has been allowed to continue over many years, but they have done nothing.

“Many other people have complained and Mill Hill has become a dumping ground and been left to rot.”

Blackburn with Darwen environment boss and Mill Hill councillor Jim Smith urged people to report fly-tipping.

Cllr Smith said: “The council can’t do anything about the end of Bonsall Street with the paving slabs as it’s an unadopted street which doesn’t belong to us.

“We have trucks that regularly collect bulky items off people, like the ones that went through Mill Hill on the weekend.

“We’ll look at installing signs in the area the resident refers to, but back alley gates have been shown not to work.”

“We’ve also had streets and back alleys in the central area of Mill Hill cleared of litter and CCTV has been used to catch fly-tippers.”

“So many areas of Mill Hill are clean and there are lots of positive things about the community, but we’d urge residents to report fly-tipping, so we can clean those areas affected,” he added.