A Blackburn housing estate is being plagued by fly-tipping, causing vermin to be attracted to the area, one frustrated resident has said.

The woman, who lives in Galligreaves Street, said rubbish is being dumped on the estate, attracting seagulls, rats and cats to the area.

She has also hit out at housing association Together Housing, which manages the estate, for not doing enough to tackle the issue.

The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, suggested the firm canvasses the area with leaflets printed to try and solve the problem.

She said: "I have been sending emails and photos to the housing association, but they have asked me to stop sending them, [even though] the problem is still there.

Bin bags dumped on the estateBin bags dumped on the estate (Image: UGC)

"Every morning I open my curtains and the seagulls, rats and cats have been at the refuse bags, with rubbish blowing up and down the road.

"I am fed up with contacting Together Housing about this. I have suggested that they contact their residents and educate them on what, when and where they can dispose of their unwanted items and general refuse.

"I even said that I would help distribute leaflets, but nothing came of that. I have been taking photos for months.

"I have stopped walking my dogs around there because I am having to constantly pull them away from open rubbish bags.

Overflowing bins on the estateOverflowing bins on the estate (Image: UGC)

"I suffer from anxiety so apart from walking my dogs I don't go out, I spend a lot of time in my bedroom and all I see when I look out of my window are rubbish bags."

Photos of rubbish show bin bags dumped on grassed areas by housing, overflowing bins spilling rubbish across pavements, fly-tipped bulky items and even the carcass of a rat in the middle of the footpath.

 

Together Housing, which controls Galligreaves estate, said it is 'aware' of the problem, and 'visits the community on a weekly basis to help manage' the issue.

David Motley, neighbourhood manager for Together Housing, said: “We are aware of the reports of fly-tipping around the Galligreaves estate and visit the community on a weekly basis to help manage this as much as we can.

"We do this alongside the local council, which is responsible for refuse collection in the area, and our Environmental Services teams schedule a time to clear up as much of the remaining bin bags and fly-tipping. 

"We understand fly-tipping is frustrating for residents and our neighbourhood teams regularly visit the estate to speak to residents and deal with instances as they occur.

"We will continue working with Blackburn with Darwen Council to ensure we both provide the best possible services for residents."