SEVERAL people have complained about problems with the refuse collection service by Blackburn Council with Darwen's operations department.

Following the procedure, I telephoned the refuse department on December 19 asking them to remove a refrigerator.

I wrote to them on January 7 asking why the job had not been done.

Having received no reply by January 12 and with this bulky household item still awaiting collection, I telephoned the Grimewatch desk at the Lancashire Evening Telegraph which spotlights the eyesores of fly tipping (but perhaps the offenders are justified if the council won't help).

Two days later, I received a letter from the environmental services manager, thanking me for the letter of January 7, but saying he was unable to trace my original request of December 19. The fridge was removed on January 17.

Evidently, the system suffers from incompetence and a lackadaisical disposition. It should not be necessary for the local newspaper to act as mediator for the public with the town hall.

J A MARSDEN, Scarborough Road, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.