LITTER louts have been targeted by a pair of Stacksteads councillors determined to clean up their village.

Councillors Christine Lamb and Michael McShea are calling on Rossendale Council's cleansing department to get tough on persistent offenders.

They are urging the department to follow authorities such as Burnley, who are using a Red Card scheme to encourage residents to clean-up their neighbourhood.

Coun Lamb said: "Burnley also employ community wardens who issue spot penalties for dropping litter, fly tipping and dog fouling, and they also name and shame offenders.

"Community wardens seem to be the link to working on these problems. Hopefully Rossendale will be able to employ community wardens using part of the Elevate money in the near future."

The two councillors have held discussions with council cleansing officers and been on site visits with Rossendale re-cycling officer Lawrence Tomlinson.

Councillor McShea said: "The central area of Stacskteads is being blighted with litter, dog dirt and fly tipping because of the anti-social and selfish behaviour of a few people, despite many good projects performed by local community groups.

"It is difficult to deal with fly tipping on private land, but landowners have a responsibility to clear fly tipping and while I have a sympathy because they have to bear the cost of cleaning other people's rubbish, the health hazards and visual appearance negate this sympathy."

Lawrence Tomlison visited areas in Stacksteads, including the derelict Acre Mill, off Farholme Lane, which was recently set on fire, and land at the side of Hitchen's Printers, which has now closed down, and is being used as a dump.

He also looked at Stacksteads Recreation Ground where footballers regularly have to pick up dog dirt before they can begin a match.

Coun McShea added: "We have a lovely village in Stacksteads and we are not going to let a mindless minority spoil the area."

A spokesman for Rossendale Council's cleansing department said: "We are aware of the problems, which are not unique to Stacksteads, but are causing a particular concern in some areas of the village. We have been out to the sites and are reviewing what can be done to help alleviate the problems."