RESIDENTS have been hit with large fines for not putting their rubbish in a wheelie bin as a council "gets tough" with its litter crackdown.

And the councillor responsible for the Blackburn with Darwen Council's Thrash the Trash scheme pledged that court action will be taken against anyone who fails to toe the line.

The £1million Thrash the Trash campaign was launched in May 2003 after residents complained to the council about litter and the environment.

A new litter collection system involving dedicated bins and boxes for different types of waste has been introduced -- and the council no longer collects waste in black bins bags left beside wheelie bins.

Nine residents from the Johnston Street area of Blackburn who have failed to use the system properly became the first to have their cases dealt with by Blackburn magistrates yesterday.

The cases against Paul Dakin, of Unity Street, Heather McLennan, of Whitehead Street, Zulfiqar Shah, of Foxhouse Street; Jemma Whalley, of Alaska Street, and Hayley Wignall, of Johnston Street, were all proved in their absence after they failed to respond to summonses served.

They were each fined £250 and ordered to pay £27.50 for the collection of their rubbish, as well as £240 in costs, for failing to place waste in an approved receptacle.

Catherine Bell, of Shaw Street, pleaded guilty by letter to the same offence and was fined £150 with £27.50 compensation and £240 costs. Barbara Carter, of Addison Street, attended court and pleaded guilty. She was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £27.50 compensation and £240 costs.

Fathema Begum and Zaman Miah, of Johnston Street, both pleaded not guilty and their cases were adjourned until April 19.

After the cases, Coun Mohammed Khan said: "It is the last thing we want to do but it is the ultimate sanction we have. The vast majority of people want to see the streets kept clean and we cannot allow a minority to spoil that.

"I hope the fines will send out a clear message to every householder in Blackburn with Darwen that we mean business and are determined to stamp out the irresponsible disposal of rubbish."

But one of those fined, Ms McLennan said: "It is absolutely outrageous. I refused to go to court. It is not my fault when I have tied all the rubbish up."

Ms Wignall declined to comment and all the other properties are at present unoccupied.

The Conservative leader at Blackburn with Darwen Council also said new regulations introduced at waste collection sites could be encouraging fly-tipping. Coun Colin Rigby said: "We all want to see the streets cleaner. But I wonder if forcing people in vans to pay to dump rubbish at tips is not putting more rubbish on out there."

In the past, ten prosecutions have taken place against businesses and fly-tippers. A council spokesman added that another 70 to 80 cases for various offences were pending.

Alan Fairhurst, prosecuting, told the court thatin all the cases council officers visited the Bank Top area the day after the bin collection and discovered bags of rubbish in back alleys, in streets and in a play area.