Apart from vermin, a fly-tipped mess only attracts one other thing - more fly-tipping.

Once pride in a park, a town centre or a building is lost, it’s gone forever until someone takes some positive action.

And unless a volunteer steps forward, it’s usually the local authority, and therefore the taxpayer, who foots the bill.

It’s somewhat unusual to find a lack of pride right on the doorstep of a civic building, as has been the case at BlackburnTown Hall.

Surely it’s the first place staff would notice something so stomach-churning as a side entrance area being used as a public urinal and rubbish tip.

However, at the root of this problem are the people who think it’s acceptable to blight this historic building in such a way. Disgusting is a fitting word for the mess and those responsible.

CCTV and enforcement costs money but perhaps making an example of some of the culprits will put others off.

Blackburn has attracted new investment in the shape of the Cathedral Quarter and this, in turn, will attract more visitors and hopefully boost the economy.

So let’s use this fresh impetus as an opportunity to inject some civic pride into the town and leave visitors feeling like they want to return.