Fine litterbugs, says MP

Residents are also urged to take more pride in their town and to use Darwen's 128 bins more often. Today, Blackburn with Darwen Council revealed it was placing at least five more bins in Darwen as part of its 'Thrash the Trash' campaign.

Mrs Anderson said: "Town centre bins are overflowing and I think we should be adopting a zero tolerance policy for Darwen. People seen dropping litter should be fined and more old-fashioned street sweepers brought in.

"In two weeks I plan to meet members of the council's refuse department to discuss the problems."

Local authorities, including Blackburn with Darwen Council, have set a target to have 25 per cent of refuse recycled by 2005. But Mrs Anderson said: "This project is confusing a lot of people and it needs to be explained more thoroughly."

Residents receive three small boxes to recycle tins, bottles and plastic, which are collected from homes every two weeks.

Sue Freear, chairman of Sudellside Residents' Association, said: "The St James' area is overflowing with litter. In my case I have a family of five and the boxes are full in a day. Rubbish bags are all over the area and we have had rats here.

"Residents' bins, as well as the bins in the town centre, need to be collected more frequently."

Coun Karimeh Foster said: "There is a litter problem in Darwen and I think people need to take more pride in their town. The bins in the town centre frequently overflow so it's hard to say that people need to be more conscientious."

Town centre bins are collected twice a day by council workers and bins along the A666 twice a week.

Sgt Anne Scott, of Darwen police, said: "It is within our remit to fine people for litter-dropping but usually the council takes on that job."

Tony Watson, Blackburn with Darwen cleansing and amenities manager, said: "As part of the Thrash the Trash initiative we will be adding at least five more bins to Darwen town centre in the next couple of months."