A FORMER building company manager was left shell-shocked and fuming after contractors carrying out repairs for the council left his back yard looking like a "bomb site".

Richard Cragg, of Higher Antley Street, Accrington, called on housing bosses to clean up the mess which he claimed had been gathering for more than a month.

The 37-year-old, who once owned a building company in London, complained about the workmen cluttering up his yard with timber, bricks and stone.

They have been at the terraced house - owned by Mr Cragg's mother - since mid-August as part of Hyndburn Council's housing repairs programme.

But Mr Cragg claims the work being done with government funding is not worth the inconvenience the builders have caused.

He said: "There is wood, scaffolding and stone everywhere and I have trouble getting out of the back door because of it. "It looks like a bomb site and I've asked the council twice to get the contractors to tidy up.

"They are supposed to be sandblasting the front and rear of the house, re-roofing and re-pointing and replacing doors and windows.

"But I came back one night and there was a thick layer of dust all over the place - they had sandblasted without sealing the windows.

"The scheme is basically sound and the council has been very good about everything.

"It's just inconvenient to have to ask them to clear up. If I had treated my clients like that I'd have been sent packing."

Jeff Evans, of Hyndburn Council's operations department said: "The situation is unacceptable and Mr Cragg should rest assured it is being cleared up.

"The contractor has been instructed to remove the building materials. Builders have no excuse about leaving rubble behind and the same rules always apply.

"People must be made to feel they have builders' respect and complaints will be acted on immediately by the council."

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