This place is a tip

John Badby and his dog Mazie, who was injured by broken glass.

OLDHAM Council has served a staggering 4,000 legal notices in Hathershaw over the past year in a bid to clean up an area blighted by fly-tippers.

Almost 40 people have been fined in the last six months for not complying with a notice, which equires households to clean up after themselves.

Angry householders pleaded with the council to take action after dumped rubbish reached dangerous levels.

John Badby contacted the council 17 times to report fly-tipping near his home in Urmson Street over six months. The problem peaked when his dog Mazie needed seven stitches after cutting a paw on broken glass.

John (42) said: “I am getting sick of this rubbish. I’ve reported fly-tipping 17 times but people are still dumping things in the alleyway near my house. It’s disgusting and dangerous.”

John spends up to 90 minutes a day clearing up the mess of bin bags, planks and bottles: “Some of the people around here just don’t have any respect for their neighbours and something needs to be done - now.”

A council spokesman said: “Oldham Council responds to fly-tipping complaints within 10 days and if we can gather evidence from the waste we find then we will prosecute.”

Report fly-tippers online at www.oldham.gov.uk.