AN environmental crusader with a soft spot for wildlife, or the neighbour from hell?

Either way, Blackpool's very own Great Uncle Bulgaria is facing a possible jail sentence prompting environmentalists and locals alike to cry 'Save the Womble'!

As reported last week (June 5), the future of 66-year-old Dennis Bostock hangs in the balance after council environmental health chiefs decided to take action.

Dennis says he has dedicated his life to making good use of things that everyday folks leave behind, searching rubbish bags for everything from clothing cast-offs and household implements to furniture and scraps of food for feeding to the seagulls and pigeons.

For weeks the council's legal department have been searching the resort in a bid to serve Dennis with legal papers relating to various breaches of court orders. He also owes around £12,000 in unpaid fines and the council has obtained an Order for Sale on his semi-detached home in Bloomfield Road.

A warrant for his arrest has now been issued and he may end up doing bird rather than feeding them!

But he has support and as one local resident and a former neighbour, Richard Bruce, of Pilling Avenue, St Annes, announced that he sympathised with the womble and claimed the council have a poor attitude to waste disposal.

Mr Bruce, who used to own a house on Bloomfield Road, said: "I sympathise with him... in my opinion the council were responsible for the problems I was having and there's a very lackadaisical approach by the council to actually keeping rubbish at bay.

"I think Mr Bostock is doing the community a favour."

Former RAF serviceman and retired Nuclear Research Engineer, Charles Thomas, of Elm Avenue in the resort, first met Dennis in 1997 and claims his is "an asset" to the community.

Pensioner Mr Thomas, a fellow environmentalist, said: "How can the authorities try to imprison this kind and caring man. He is not a simple man, but a principled intellectual.

"The authorities claim to invest thousands in keeping the streets clean, but it is environmental pioneers like Dennis who prove that something can be done about the situation at a fraction of the cost. Dennis is an asset to this town and its people and if Blackpool had more people like him it would be a safer, more attractive place."

Mr Thomas feels so strongly about Dennis's predicament he has penned a poetic tribute to his friend.

What do you think? Should there be a move to Save the Womble? Log on to the Save the Womble debate on The Citizen website at www.thisislancashire.co.uk to give us your views.

Alternatively, if you want to show your support (or otherwise) for Mr Bostock should write to The Citizen, 13/13a Clifton Street, Blackpool, FY1 1JD.