OUR report tonight of rubbish piled up in an East Lancashire back street does indeed cast shame on our area.

Resident Sam Spence, who is so appalled by the mess near his Blackburn home that he dreads what friends from out of town may think, puts some of the blame on the council's new fortnightly collections of non-recyclable household waste.

Yet, even if a review of the system may be called for if too many people's wheelie bins are overflowing in that interval, there is still no excuse for dumping refuse in back streets or anywhere else.

The real blame lies not with the council, but with the irresponsible, anti-social householders who scatter this filth.

And Mr Spence's neighbour, Ray Butler, is quite right when he says it is up to residents to help to keep their neighbourhoods tidy.

Also right is the council in threatening to prosecute those found dumping rubbish and in calling on residents to report anyone they see doing it.

People have to learn that it is not just the local authority that is responsible for keeping neighbourhoods clean.

The council is intent on cleaning up the borough and has launched a £1million 'Thrash the Trash' initiative to tackle the litter problem, but it needs the positive and help and support of residents if it is to succeed.