CONCERNS have been raised that Oswaldtwistle has become a dumping ground for people’s rubbish.

Jim Swindlehurst, of White Ash Lane, said he was sick of the amount of rubbish dumped around the town.

He said: “There is rubbish being dumped all over. I train dogs, but everywhere I take them there is rubbish.

“Every layby and back alley, there is a bed tipped out or settees, or other rubbish.

“I have complained to the council numerous times.

“It has been going on for years. I have tried before and nothing ever gets done.”

Mr Swindlehurst, 64, said there was a particular problem in New Lane, Nook Lane, Fielding Lane and Pothouse Lane.

He said: “I am sick and fed up of it. They should put cameras up.

“It is a beautiful place is England, and they are ruining it.

“I have been all over the world and you don’t see rubbish dumped everywhere like this.”

Mr Swindlehurst said contractors carry out work, such as removing rubbish, and then dump it instead of desposing of it properly.

He said: “People should just not give them any work.”

Coun Peter Britcliffe, who lives in New Lane, said flytipping was a big issue in Hyndburn.

He said: “People employing people to do work should check to make sure they have the right tipping licence.

“It is a blight on the countryside. I fully support Jim Swindlehurst’s campaign. It is a massive problem throughout the borough.

“Perhaps we don’t do enough prosecuting to stop flytipping.

“But on the other hand it is not easy to catch them and people don’t always want to report it.”

Hyndburn Council has erected cameras in some areas of Oswaldtwistle to catch flytippers.

In August, one resident had to pay more than £200 after he was caught tipping tree cuttings and garden waste in Coach Road.