TOWN hall chiefs have hit out at fly-tippers – after mounds of rotting waste piled up outside a primary school.

The mass of rubbish, which includes a discarded mattress, a fridge, a carpet, empty beer cans and bin bags full of household waste, was spotted outside St Mary and St Joseph’s Primary School on Bennington Street, Blackburn, yesterday.

It is understood that the rubbish has been building up at the back of a row of houses on Haslingden Road over the last couple of weeks.

Environment boss Jim Smith said dumping on such a large scale directly next to a primary school was 'disgusting, irresponsible and illegal'.

Lancashire Telegraph: He said: “This is not good for the kids who live in this area and for those who go to that school. It’s giving them such a bad impression.

“It’s only disgusting and selfish people who fly-tip and there’s no excuse for it when it’s free to take rubbish to the tip or pay the council £10 to come and collect it.

“What’s more annoying is that there are so many people who do so much to try and keep on top of littering and fly-tipping in the borough and this is just plain irresponsible.”

READ: Councillors condemn actions and urge communities to work together

The waste was reported to the Telegraph by a concerned parent.

They said: "At best it's unsightly, but at worst it's a health hazard for children at the school. The rubbish is right up against the railings that back onto the school's playground.

Lancashire Telegraph:

"It's not the school's fault clearly but something should be done about it quickly.

"It won't be people who live next to the school who have left it like that. It will have been dumped from elsewhere.

"I hope it's cleared up quickly and I hope someone can be punished for this too."

In October, the Lancashire Telegraph reported on plans by council bosses to deploy covert cameras to try to catch repeat fly-tippers in two areas of Blackburn – after rats were filmed scurrying amongst discarded rubbish in Mill Hill and Roe Lee.

Cllr Smith added: “We’ve caught many people with these cameras and believe me, if we catch up with the people responsible for this we will fine them.

“I warn any resident not to fly tip and will say this – if anyone sees or knows that their neighbours are doing this sort of thing then report them to the council immediately.”

Fly-tipping can be reported at mybwd.blackburn.gov.uk