LITTER in a Leyland street has caused one resident to start a personal crusade to get it cleared up.

Despite numerous complaints to South Ribble Borough Council, Martin Heald, of Boundary Street, believes he is being fobbed off. He has also been in touch with the county council and has written to The Citizen to highlight the problem.

Now in a last ditch attempt to get it sorted, Mr Heald is launching a website to 'rubbish' the council's policy on refuse collecting and gather public views about litter in Leyland.

Mr Heald said: "The council only present the good news on their website and they need shaking up. This is why I am launching the website to tell council tax payers the other side of the story."

The new website goes 'live' on May 1 and asks people in Leyland to record their views.

Mr Heald then plans to contact Farington councillor, Mark Alcock, with the findings.

"I have suggested to Coun Alcock that we need wheelie bins, with the increase in Council Tax we have just had, I thought it was the least they could do," he said.

Martin believes the plastic refuse bins -- already used in Preston -- would prevent cats clawing through bin bags lining the streets for collection.

The area around Boundary Street and at the back of Northgate, near the railway line, is covered in litter, according to Martin.

But Coun Alcock said: "Northgate is unadopted -- not the council's responsibility -- and belongs to residents. It is therefore their responsibility to keep this area clean.

"The rubbish on the railway embankment is land that belongs to Railtrack who will be notified and requested to have it removed."

And he said wheelie bins increase crime.

"Wheelie bins bring an increase in crime, thieves push them to a window climb on them and break in. What really needs to happen is for people to be responsible for their rubbish and not to fly tip."

But Detective Constable Mike Armstrong, of Leyland CID, said: "There is no direct correlation between wheelie bins and a rise in crime."

To preview Martin's website log on to http://www30.brinkster.com/borough/

Mike Perry, head of leisure and operational services at South Ribble Borough Council, said: "Boundary Street was last swept on Wednesday March 27. It is a problem area -- being a cul-de-sac.

"From April 1 this year the budget for 'other cleaning' which includes street sweeping has been reduced by £100,000 meaning resources will be cut back."