MORE than 100 householders in Hyndburn face prosecution for dumping rubbish in back streets.

Around 1,200 warning letters have been sent out to residents telling them they could face legal action and a stiff fine as part of a council campaign.

A team of enforcement officers have inspected the borough's back streets and formal notices have been served on 120 homes under the Environmental Protection Act.

Now the householders must put out their wheelie bins and recycling containers on the correct day, with no 'side waste' - extra bin-bags that would not fit into the bins.

The areas will be watched, and if householders fail to comply, they could face a £1,000 fine.

Coun Ann Scaife, portfolio holder for the environment and cleansing, said: "Although the vast majority of residents support the recycling scheme and have helped to smash our recycling targets, unfortunately we are still finding the small minority that continue to dump bags in the back streets."

This week Hyndburn Council took two residents to court for dumping rubbish in back streets.

Emma Louise Armstrong, of Cedar Street, and Leanne Jones, of Royds Street, both Accrington, were fined by Hyndburn magistrates.

Armstrong was fined £50 for putting black bin bags in a back street, and Jones, who failed to attend court, was fined £100 and ordered to pay £50 costs.

The council had discovered five bags of household rubbish in the back street at the rear of Jones' address.

Coun Scaife said: "Enforcement Officers found that the majority of side waste found on collection day contained waste that could be recycled, proving that if people made full use of the recycling facilities they would have sufficient room in their wheeled bin for two weeks' waste.

"We realise that there are genuine cases where people cannot physically manage their wheeled bin and these are assessed individually, and we do provide an assisted collection service and larger bins for large families."

Residents who need help with their bin can call the council's Helpline on 01254 399988.