RESIDENTS in Wensley Fold, Blackburn, have called for extra help to tackle mounds of rubbish and vermin.

They are fed up of the land behind their homes in Foxhouse Street being used as a dump by fly-tippers and their pleas to the council falling on deaf ears.

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Resident Khuram Sehzad said: “There are mounds of rubbish around our homes.

“People just come down here and dump it.

“It is unhealthy and we often see rats and other vermin.”

Blackburn Conservative general election candidate Bob Eastwood responded to residents calls for help and organised his own clean up, gathering many bags of rubbish.

He said: “Several people have told me they’ve seen rats running amok around the site with some getting into their homes and they cannot be expected to act as pest control officers.

“Everyone is entitled to live in a clean and healthy environment and in homes that are of a satisfactory standard.

“But for the residents of Foxhouse Street this is certainly not the case.

“This situation is a public health hazard and a very serious issue.

“It needs urgent action.

“I will speak to the council to ask what, if anything, is being done to eradicate this problem.”

Ward councillor, borough leader and Labour candidate for Blackburn Kate Hollern said: “Fly-tipping is a massive problem right across the borough.

“I am not aware of people seeing rats. I shall look into this and see what can be done.”

Borough environment boss Jim Smith said: “It is disgraceful that some people think it’s ok to dump rubbish on our streets, breaking the law in the process, whilst the overwhelming majority of residents keep our borough clean.

“We take action against those found to be littering in our community, naming and shaming in the press those who are successfully prosecuted.”