PEOPLE are being urged to ring a hotline with information about 500 tyres dumped in a Darwen beauty spot.

United Utilities, which owns the land in Roddlesworth off Tockholes Road where the tyres have been dumped, and 40 per cent of West Pennine Moors, want to see the people responsible prosecuted.

Sean Robinson, spokesman for United Utilities, said: "People can ring this line with information about who's done it, and we will work with the police to prosecute."

United Utilities will also be moving their surveillance cameras around the area to catch perpetrators and instructing park rangers to be on high alert for fly-tipping.

Blackburn with Darwen Council is sending a team to investigate the area and believe, due to the illegal and potentially toxic nature of the tyres, the Environment Agency will have to be brought in to address the situation.

Anyone with information about the dumping, which was discovered on Monday, should call the hotline on 01204 664301.