RESIDENTS in a Darwen street claim they have been unable to sit out in their gardens after the owners of a nearby property left rubbish and dog mess to rot.

And the smell from the garden in Westwell Street has got so bad that nearby home owners fear the rubbish may attract vermin if it is not cleared up soon.

The owners of the house are thought to have left the property five weeks ago, leaving the back garden full of around 20 bags of rubbish, carpets, and piles of dog mess. A notice has been served on the owner to clean up the house.

One neighbour, Michelle Abbott, said: "The smell got so bad during the warm weather last week it was humming. I like to sit outside in my own garden when I can. I was working lates on Wednesday and the weather was lovely when I got home, but I had to rush back inside as it was so disgusting.

"One of my neighbours, who lives next door to the property, has seen cats rummaging through the bags of rubbish and leaving mess in her garden."

Mrs Abbott contacted Blackburn with Darwen environmental health department several weeks ago to sort out the problem but, she says, nothing was done.

She said: "I rang again last week and was told they had no record of my complaint being registered. All that has been done since then is for the council to put a notice on the front door of the house warning the owners to clear up their mess.

"That is all very well for us walking past, but the people haven't been there for the past five weeks. They obviously didn't care about leaving their rubbish out for their refuse collectors and just let it mount up instead."

Darwen councillor Mike Barratt said: "I have been on to the department responsible and have been assured the rubbish will be removed within four to five days.

"The people who vacated the house were its owner-occupiers and the council was not aware of the situation. I have done everything I can to assist Mrs Abbott in the removal of the rubbish and have been promised it will be removed, otherwise I shall be contacting the department involved to find out why."

Earlier this month, residents were urged to take more care of Darwen after a councillor said some areas looked like war zones.

Sally Macallister, Blackburn with Darwen neighbourhood services manager, said: "We served a seven-day notice on the April 23 requiring the owner to remove the cooker and the bags of refuse from the yard.

"He has until today or we will take action in default and bill the owner for the removal of rubbish."