COUNCIL chiefs have begun to clean up rotting piles of rubbish in a fly-tipping hotspot in Burnley.

The Lancashire Telegraph reported yesterday how residents in the Bank Hall ward of the town were left “shocked” and “sickened” by dozens of bin bags left on a 20-metre stretch of wasteland off Albert Street.

A clean-up was ordered but Burnley Council stressed it is not merely a reaction to the shocking pictures.

They say a team will now visit around 500 properties in Leyland Road and encourage residents to recycle more and dispose of their rubbish correctly.

Council staff will work alongside police and the fire service in a campaign to crack down on anti-social behaviour too.

Coun Charlie Briggs said: “Most people care about their neighbourhood and want to do everything they can to keep it clean and tidy.”