A WAR of words has developed after a borough's new litter patrols inspected an out-of-town retailer.

Council bosses in Pendle say they were perfectly within their rights to monitor B&Q, off Churchill Way, Brierfield.

But Cllr Eileen Ansar says she has received a complaint from staff there about the activities of their new District Enforcers team.

Town hall officials have confirmed that a warning has been issued to a member of staff at the store for dropping a cigarette butt outside.

Cllr Ansar said: "This should be about educating people about littering, rather than lying in wait outside a store for someone to drop litter.

"When the Nelson Committee met last week we raised the fact that residents in Hendon Road are very concerned about the amount of littering there, and the surrounding area.

"It would be much more productive if our officers were patrolling there, and a number of other places across the borough, than outside B&Q, which is private land in any event."

Council officials say the litter patrols have already resulted in more than 240 fines being issued to date for littering and failing to clean up after dogs.

Philip Mousdale, the council's corporate director, said: "They are getting the message across that these are environmental crimes and they're helping us to take a tough line so that we can tackle the people who are spoiling Pendle's environment.

"Through legislation the team is allowed to patrol any outside private land which is open to the public.

"This week this included witnessing a member of B&Q staff throwing a cigarette butt on the floor outside the store.

"Most local businesses will be pleased to have the team patrolling and helping to keep the environment around their stores cleaner."

"We are keen to work with private landowners. But if they put in writing that they don’t want the enforcement team on their land, we make sure they keep away from it."

B&Q was unavailable for comment last night.

Fines ranging from £75 to £150 are being levied as part of the new crackdown.

The introduction of the anti-litter patrols mirrors similar activity by a number of other East Lancashire boroughs.

Controversy greeted the arrival of another firm, Kingdom Environmental, in Blackburn with Darwen, after claims people were being fined for dropping litter on private land.