RESIDENTS will notice more litter in the streets because of spending cuts, a council chief has warned.

Peter Hunt, who retires today as Blackburn with Darwen Council’s director of regeneration, said the cutbacks would start to bite now the new financial year is under way.

The council is cutting street cleaning and grass-cutting as part of a £33million savings package.

Mr Hunt said: “You would expect people would start to notice the difference.

"It’s bound to happen – there are not enough resources. We didn’t have enough resources before.

“Then it’s a question of whether the protests get loud enough for people to listen.”

Some of the services are facing cuts of 50 per cent, and the frequency of cleaning rotas has been reduced while some staff have lost their jobs.

“It’s been very difficult. We have got good staff here, and I have known many of them for years”, he said.

Mr Hunt admitted the war on litter would never be won, and said the increase in takeaways was the ‘single biggest problem’.

His other responsibilities include recycling, where the borough’s rates have steadily increased in recent years, and gritting.

Mr Hunt retires today having not taken a day off sick in 38 years.

Mr Hunt, the director of regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said his impeccable record was ‘just one of those things’.

He added: “I have been very lucky and not prone to illness.”

The former Darwen Grammar School student, who turns 60 tomorrow, has worked for the council since 1973, when he joined as a graduate engineer.

He rose through the ranks at the town hall and for the past 12 years has been the director in charge of the borough’s roads and recycling. The 59-year-old, who comes to work at 6am every day at the council’s Davyfield Road headquarters, is set to be given a send-off from colleagues today.

He said: “I always intended to retire at 60. I’ve not got lots of work lined up, but nor will I become a couch potato.”

Council chief executive Graham Burgess said: “Peter has been a popular, much valued and respected employee during his long service with the council.

The fact he has never had a day off sick is testament to his commitment and strong work ethos.”