TOUGH-talking council bosses have offered Burnley residents who refuse to recycle a last chance to avoid a fine.

Householders in areas of the town which have low recycling rates, such as Burnley Wood and Bank Hall, are set to be given brand new kerbside boxes in a £64,000 bid to improve the borough’s green rating.

But a council scheme to issue brand new blue wheelie bins to thousands of homes in Burnley and Padiham has been scrapped after officers decided it was “unfeasible” and too expensive.

Coun Charlie Briggs, executive member with responsibility for recycling, said he hoped the outlay on boxes would raise Burnley’s recycling rates.

He added: “People in certain areas don’t want to recycle but they have got to put their bins out.

“Hopefully this new scheme, where we give out new boxes, will work - it has got to work.

“We are trying to stop the people who are fly-tipping and the people who are dumping rubbish, which is disgusting.

“Some people refuse to recycle and these people have got to be encouraged. If they don’t we will fine them.

“It is the last chance for the people down there.”

Homes in Burnley borough were first issued with recycling boxes in 2005.

However, council chiefs discovered certain areas, particularly Burnley Wood and Bank Hall, had much worse recycling rates.

Officers believe properties had a high turnover of residents and had not received enough information on the scheme.

Now, after selling recycling vehicles, the borough has been left with £64,000 to spend, earmarked for “low participation areas” and “mid-participating households”.

Members of Burnley Council’s executive were last night expected to rubber stamp the proposal.