A GARAGE owner has called for action after 18 months worth of fly tipped junk was "left to rot" outside his business.

Pete Morgan, who owns a garage in Grimshaw Street, Accrington, has found bin bags full of toys, household items, building material and even chemical containers dumped in the open alleyway behind his workshop.

As part of the Elevate East Lancashire regeneration project, properties on several of the neighbouring streets have been demolished in order to make way for new housing, leaving Grimshaw Street's back passageway easily accessible to flytippers.

But Mr Morgan said he had made repeated calls to Hyndburn Council about the mess but nothing had been done.

A spokesman for the council has now pledged to investigate the situation immediately.

Mr Morgan said: "It has been going on for at least a year and a half.

"We are right on the edge of the Elevate area so it's as if Hyndburn Council doesn't care that the place looks like a dumping ground.

"It often seems a bit like they aren't clearing it up because they want us to hurry up and leave ourselves.

"When I found the chemical container I spoke to the council and they asked what was in it, but I wasn't going to get that close to take a look.

"I wouldn't go near any of the stuff without gloves on."

The rubbish has been strewn along the entire length of the alleyway, which also runs behind the Raza Jamia Mosque, where the funerals of Caneze Riaz and her four daughters who lost their lives a house fire in Tremellen Street, Acc-rington, was held.

Mr Morgan added: "When the Riaz family funerals were held I spoke to the council and said the rubbish would be seen on national television if they didn't clear it up - but nothing was done.

"I have made several complaints and it is still here.

"We were promised that a JCB would be brought down to cart all the stuff away, but it never materialised.

"We have even resorted to getting shovels and moving it ourselves so that we could get cars into the garage because it blocked the entry at times.

"That isn't our responsibility though and the council should be taking more pride in Accrington and how it looks. "

A spokesperson for Hyndburn Council said: "We will be looking at the situation and then be taking appropriate action."