COMPANY bosses were left flabbergasted as brazen fly-tippers broke into their headquarters and dumped 20 tonnes of rubbish on their land.

CCTV from Cooper Bespoke Joinery in Blackburn shows two wagons entering the site on Lower Hollin Bank Street after the lock to the yard was cut shortly after 8.30pm on Monday.

Now managing director Scott Cooper is pleading with Blackburn with Darwen Council to support the firm in helping to clear up the mess.

He says he could be left facing a bill of as much as £6,500 in getting the rubbish taken away and beefing up security to prevent it happening again.

Mr Cooper said: “I came in through the back entrance this morning and I saw the main gates were already open.

“The first thing I saw when I looked in the car park was this enormous mountain of waste.

“It’s two skips and probably about 20 tonnes in total.

“If it was a couple of hundred pounds to sort out I would just get it done but I’m left with a massive bill.
“It is absolutely disgusting that people can illegally dump waste on other people’s grounds and because it’s my land, it’s my problem.”

Mr Cooper said he had been quoted between £3,000 and £5,000 to clear the rubbish as well as another £1,500 to install additional security gates.

He added: “This waste could have asbestos or hypodermic needles – and we can even see petrol cans.

“How are we expected to deal with this? We have asked for support and advice from the council but have been told ‘not our problem’. 

“We know the law states that we have to remove it but surely some support should be available.”

Blackburn with Darwen Council policy states the council must clear litter and refuse from public places including streets, parks, playgrounds and pedestrian areas.

But if a piece of private land is littered the owner is responsible for clearing the litter. 

Environment boss Cllr Jim Smith said: “This is a matter for the police. There will be telltale signs on the wagons other than the licence plates.

“We will analyse the CCTV and see if we have seen the wagons before. From the council’s point of view, it’s on private land. If someone smashed my windows, no one else would pay for it.”