FINAL touches are being put to legal moves to force the owners of an empty Accrington mill to clear the building of toxic waste and dangerous chemicals.

Hyndburn Council hopes to be in the High Court next month seeking an injunction requiring Bury-based Kiely Developments Ltd to remove 250 drums from inside the vandal-plagued Richmond Hill Street factory.

Meanwhile, the company at the centre of the saga has written asking the council to remove the toxic waste and send them the bill.

The council is willing to supervise the work, but wants up-front the estimated £20,000 plus costs of employing a specialist firm to safely dispose of the toxic waste.

Council solicitor Linda Comstive said: "No prudent local authority would do otherwise. "The procedure we are going through is on the basis that they pay for the work, not us."

A letter from Kiely Homes, a trading name of Kiely Developments Ltd, was received by the council last week.

The authority immediately wrote back telling the company if it wants to avoid High Court proceedings it should clear the toxic waste immediately.

The council said it was willing to supervise the work for an administration fee and payment in advance of the cost of employing specialists to carry out the clearance.

Mrs Comstive said: "We asked for a reply by return of post. We have had no letter back and no cheque."

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