AN EMERGENCY aid charity is having to dip into its donation coffers to clear rubbish illegally dumped on its land.

Blackburn-based Islamic Relief on Bennington Street has had to hire a skip at £100 a time to clear the bags of household and builders rubbish, old frozen food and rotten vegetables that are left in the private car park at Europa House.

The charity raises funds to help people in war-torn countries and those stricken by natural and man made disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, famine and war.

They also help in food distribution, education and relief projects in 81 countries.

But over the past few months they have have had to spend £300 on clearing away other people's rubbish. Main fund-raiser Althman Khan said: "Every morning we get four or five bags of rubbish, which split open and spill out all over the place.

"It's all sorts of things, food, rubble, household stuff. We are worried it might attract rats. It's a situation people need to know about."

Volunteer Vivian Eddleston added: "The money we are having to spend is coming out of someone's mouth. That £100 could go abroad and help someone who really needs it. We've tried putting notices up but people take no notice."

Sally MacAlister, Blackburn with Darwen Council's neighbourhood services manager said: "The dumping of food waste could be a risk to health and although caused by someone else, in their absence it must be cleared away by the property owner. In such circumstances where there is evidence of who has dumped waste, steps can be taken to prosecute."

Picture: Athman Khan and Joseph Eddleston, workers at Islamic Relief, Blackburn, view the rubbish left by fly-tippers