THIS street in Blackburn was dubbed as the dirtiest in Lancashire.

The photo, which was taken on February 28, 1979, shows a group of residents standing on one of the many puddles on Henry Whalley Street, Mill Hill.

They said it should be renamed Wellington Street because they often had to wear wellies.

After 19 years of dust, dirt and rubbish, the householders wanted council action to put an end to the nuisance on their front and back doorsteps.

On the front doorstep was mud from the unsurfaced dirt road. On the back doorstep was a cobbled alley littered with refuse garbage and assorted rubbish which they claimed blocks drains and encouraged rats.

Sick of fighting a losing battle to keep their floors clean were housewives Mrs Bernadette Hargreaves and Mrs Lena Dilworth, who lived in the middle of Henry Street.

Mrs Dilworth said: “Whalley Street must be the filthiest. It is not a slum area but the dirt is making the place like one. It is impossible to keep anything clean for a day.”

Mrs Hargreaves, 41, said: “I have lived here 19 years and have had three petitions to the council, but got nowhere.

“Once they put down the grit, but that got washed away in the rain. There is a clearance area nearby and those streets and backs were resurfaced by the council.”