VOLUNTEERS from Whitefield and Unsworth area board sprung into action to tackle a problem with fly tipping.

A spring-clean was carried out near garages in Heathfield Road, which is just off Sunnybank Road, after people had used the area as a dumping ground for rubbish.

The volunteers invited the garage tenants along and some took them up on the offer to tidy up the mess.

The group spent several hours on the job and before long a huge skip was brimming with garden waste, building materials and old furniture.

Chairman of the area board, Coun Joan Grimshaw, said: "I would like to thank those garage tenants who took the trouble to turn out. The area was transformed within a few hours. However, I am disgusted how a small minority of residents and businesses think it is acceptable to fly tip and despoil the local area for everyone else. Even while we were cleaning up we stopped four people in cars from fly tipping when they could have easily driven to the free refuse tips at Prestwich or Bury."

Coun Grimshaw said Bury Council was working hard to tackle the issue of fly tipping but needed the support of residents to prevent and report the problem.

The council has two environmental enforcement officers to deal with environmental crimes such as fly tipping who have new powers to take enforcement action against offenders which can result in fines of up to £20,000 or even prison sentences.

The area board intends to work with the environmental officers to target hotspots such as Heathfield Road and the clean-up will be followed up with letters to local residents explaining how to report fly tipping and track down the culprits.

Anyone who witnesses fly tipping should report it to Bury Council on 0161 253 5353 or email customerserviceseds@bur.gov.uk