RESIDENTS have been given a final warning over parking after complaining that their bins had not been emptied.

People living in the Browning Street area of Hoddlesden say collections are regularly missed, meaning rubbish piles up the week after.

But council bosses have stressed that on the two occasions that they have records of bins not being emptied, double parking on the street was to blame.

And they have warned that people will be given parking tickets in future -- and yellow lines are on the way to cure the problem once and for all.

John Mellor, whose Bayne Street home backs out on to the affected area said residents have had problems for almost a year.

"I am sick of contacting the council about this but something has to be done," said John, 66.

"Their excuse is that the wagon cannot get down Browning Street when cars are parked there, but why can't they use their narrow vehicle which empties the bins in Pickup Bank?

"It has been known for us to go three weeks without having our rubbish collected and there were refuse bags all over because our bins were overflowing.

"Since New Year we have had no proper collections. Once, our local councillor Fred Slater had to intervene to make them come back, and we've had two missed collections.

"I have seen foxes, dogs and cats ripping bags open and taking the rubbish out and one of the neighbours has reported seeing rats in among them. It is very unhealthy. We should not have to live like this."

Coun Slater has also been contacted by a number of residents in Bayne Street about the problem.

"On several occasions I have been told by people that the bins are not being emptied in Browning Street and as far as I am aware this is the only place in Hoddlesden, Pickup Bank and the surrounding area where this occurs. I have not heard of complaints this often in other areas of Blackburn or Darwen.

"Bins should be emptied every week by the council, it is one of their duties," said Coun Slater.

A spokesman for Blackburn with Darwen Council defended their record. He said: "A report has been prepared by us and we find that on only one occasion, January 16, the bins were not emptied.

"This is because of double parking in Browning Street and a skip in the road. This also happened on January 30 but we came back to empty them on February 3.

"A traffic warden met with residents of Browning Street before Christmas and told them in no uncertain terms that if problems persist on bin day that all cars will receive parking tickets.

"As I understand, a traffic order is to be put to the council on February 22 requesting that yellow lines are put in Browning Street to cure the problem once and for all."