A HOMEOWNER presented a photographic dossier to Blackburn MP Jack Straw after becoming fed-up with discarded furniture and rubbish -- including large knives -- being dumped outside nearby flats.

Neil Linaker, 70, of Borrowdale Avenue, Blackburn, wanted the stuff cleared, claiming it gave the area a bad image and affected the value of private homes.

He bought his two-bedroom semi detached house 12 years ago, and claims that he and other private homeowners tidy their gardens

But he said tenants in nearby flats -- belonging to housing association Twin Valley Homes --- do not.

And he claims discarded furniture, plastic bin bags, tin cans, plywood and other waste had remained uncollected for months.

Mr Linaker lobbied Twin Valley Homes, Blackburn councillors and Mr Straw for action for several months.

Twin Valley Homes said it had not received any formal request for removal, but following calls from the Evening Telegraph said the matter has now been investigated and the rubbish removed.

Mr Linaker, said: "It's the responsibility of residents and/or Twin Valley Homes to keep the grounds clean and tidy. Residents of the new homes take pride in their properties and keep them tidy.

"I pass the flats daily, and think 'my God, what a mess'. It seems the tenants themselves are disinterested in maintaining gardens. Some rubbish has been there for months and one bin has not been put out for collection for ages.

"A friend said the flats looked like slums.

"I tried to sort this out last year. It must be 10 months since I began corresponding with Twin Valley Homes. I've visited the local and main offices and had lengthy correspondence."

Mr Linakar said he suspected the scruffy environment had hampered house values. In 1992, he paid £43,000 for his home but estimates it is now worth only £50,000.

He said: "That's not a huge increase in value and I'm sure the blight has contributed."

In frustration, Mr Linakar said he attended a housing panel meeting to present his dossier to Jack Straw, Blackburn councillors and Twin Valley Homes representatives and said Jack Straw's office had been "quite supportive".

A Twin Valley spokeswoman said tenants were responsible for maintaining gardens, but if items were dumped, it was sometimes difficult to prove guilt.

She added that the company would respond, if requested, to clear land under their reponsibility.

Gwyneth Sarkar from Twin Valley Homes said: "We are maintaining the area to minimum standards and have recently completed a major programme of external improvements. We deal with difficulties when they arise and will continue doing so."

Ray Grimshaw, Blackburn with Darwen Council's assistant director of direct services, said: "Where there is an incident of fly-tipping in private land, the council can only remove material if requested by the landowner. We have a close relationship with Twin Valley Homes and any request to remove material will be dealt with accordingly."