FIRE chiefs are demanding council bosses take action to stamp out fly-tippers in Kirklees Valley.

At least five times every week, the local fire-fighting crews are requested to attend the valley to tackle rubbish fires started by children playing with matches.

Hundreds of old tyres and large amounts of household waste are regularly dumped in and around the derelict Kirklees industrial estate with youngsters torching the abandoned eyesores.

Assistant divisional officer John Beryl from the Bury station said: "Fly-tippers and young children are making our lives hell at the moment.

"A lot of our time is being wasted dealing with fires in Kirklees Valley. That time should be made available for real emergencies and lives could be lost. "I have asked Bury Council to take action to try to stop the fly-tippers from gaining access to the valley although nothing seems to have been done so far."

Mr Beryl also warned parents who live close to Kirklees to be aware of the dangers their children face playing in the valley.

"Children are gaining access to the derelict industrial buildings and climbing on the roofs. This is very dangerous, and a very serious accident could occur."

Work will soon begin on the creation of a new housing development in the valley, which should go a long way to resolving the fly-tipping problems.

Mr Bill Rees of Bury Council's development and environmental services department said efforts were being made to restrict access to the site.

He said: "The owners of the land will be approached over this matter with regard to closing the site to traffic."

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