VERMIN are plaguing a town centre trader who is besieged by rubbish.

Land off Northgate, Blackburn, has become a dumping ground for and fly-tippers, according to businessman Duncan Seed, who said that it attracts rats, pigeons and rummaging tramps.

The owner of the Glamour health and beauty salon, said the final straw came when more than half a dozen blue sacks appeared outside after being legitimately left by the Alliance and Leicester branch on King William Street.

Because of problems with nearby roadworks, refuse wagons were unable to reach the area and he said he feared it would sit there for another week.

He added: "Our customers don't want to see rubbish and vermin.

"We have had problems with rats around here, pigeons, and tramps rooting through the rubbish - this needs sorting out.

"It is one thing trying to clean Blackburn up and make it more attractive but this is just not good enough."

He has reported the problem, which includes trade and rubble dumped underneath an adjoining fire escape, to Blackburn with Darwen Council's environmental health department.

But the local authority has said the land is outside its control.

Peter Hunt, the council's environment director, said: "The area is unadopted and it is the landowners' responsibility to keep it clean, not the council's.

"However, we will investigate to try and trace the source of the fly-tipping and warn the offenders."

An Alliance and Leicester spokesman said: "The waste causing concern to the Glamour salon was old promotional material which was being disposed of.

"Waste containing customer data is disposed of in a completely different and secure way.

"This waste was due to be collected some days ago, but due to the roadworks in the area collectors were not able to get access to the service area.

"While the bags were not placed near Glamour by A&L staff, we apologise to the proprietor for any inconvenience this may have caused.

"We are working to get it removed as soon as practicable."