BURNLEY MP Peter Pike is battling to prevent paper and other sludge being spread on moorland.

He was alerted about the problem in the early 1970s when paper sludge was legally spread on Heald Moor above the town.

But the way it was done did not meet with the approval of the environmental authorities who stopped it. By then the damage had been done.

Although problems at the site have now become much less with the passage of the years, Mr Pike is determined to prevent a recurrence.

He said: "Most moorland has a thin covering of soil, unsuitable for the spreading of paper and other industrial sludges.

"The environment agency are very concerned about it.

"I have been battling at all levels of government - local and central - for much tighter controls.

"I believe it should be banned on moorland and allowed only in exceptional circumstances when it can be shown it will not damage the environment.

"Although the problem has now largely gone away at Heald Moor, there is a lot of moorland around my constituency and East Lancashire.

"I am determined to stop it happening again."

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