EAST Lancashire's only female roadsweeper has refused to chuck her old job in the dustbin despite becoming a pub landlady.

So Tracy Bennett, of Highfield Road, Blackburn will combine keeping the streets clean during the day and running the town's Royal Oak at night.

This is because she has been swept of her feet by being a streetcleaner and spending her days in the fresh air.

And her workmates say that the short-back-and-sides and tattooed Mum has fit right in alongside the men and earned their respect.

"I suppose I was a tomboy and never had dolls," she said. "Being a street cleaner wasn't an ambition in life, let's put it that way, but it's good because I'm outdoors.

"I'm going to carry on working as a roadsweep. I've got a bar manager who will run the pub for me. I like street cleaning and I like people.

"I want to keep on going as well because I won't make much money at the start."

Tracy, 37, has been a roadsweeper for five years for Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. No other council in East Lancashire can boast a female in such a stereotypically male job.

But Tracy is undaunted by that. After five years of friends and her children poking fun she has developed a thick skin.

"A few people have come up to me and said I've got a hard job. My mates take the mickey by coming up to me and saying I've missed a bit," she said. "I don't know why there isn't any other women doing this job. Maybe they don't want to get dirty, or maybe they are afraid it might be hard work.

"It's a good job when it's sunny and they're all right to work for, but it's hard because of the amount of litter. Although a lot of friendly people come up to you.

"But I've learned a lot as well because we have done an NVQ which is about health and safety, and training you in how to handle people."

Peter Dell, Tracy's manager at the council, said: "Tracy is a brilliant worker. She can work well alone or with a team and she can be left to get on with things, without us having to worry about her.

"She gets on well with everybody despite her sex and she is an asset to any team."