FLYTIPPERS have turned a country lane into a rat-infested rubbish tip.

Local residents say they are sick and tired of motorists pulling up at the roadside in Coal Pit Lane, off Lower Leigh Road, Westhoughton, and illegally dumping sofas, mattresses and household rubbish.

The site was nominated as one of the area's worst grot spots by Bolton News reader Terence Riley, as part of our Bin It For Bolton 2007 campaign.

Maintenance engineer Mr Riley, from Bolton, said: "I drive past that spot every day and it's an absolute disgrace.

"People just drive up, dump their rubbish, do a U-turn and then drive off. It's been a grot spot for years and it's just been allowed to accumulate.

"It really smells in the summer and the food that has been dumped there attracts rats.

"There's no excuse for fly-tipping. It's just laziness."

A spokesman for Wigan Council, which owns the land, said: "Coal Pit Lane is a recurring problem spot and we regularly schedule clean-ups. Another one is scheduled imminently and we're also considering installing CCTV.

"We believe we're looking for a serial offender. We are appealing for witnesses but we would advise the public not to approach a suspect. Anyone with any information should contact 01942 404364."

The original Bin It For Bolton campaign, launched in 2004, led to a visible improvement in the town centre as more people started to use bins and £50 on-the-spot fines were introduced for anybody seen dropping litter.

We relaunched our campaign this year and are asking residents to log on to our website, write to us or call, to report the worst spots for litter and dumped rubbish.

We will then highlight areas of concern to Bolton Council and community groups in the area.

Trevor Whiteley, from Bolton, emailed us this comment: "I would like to report the continuous dropping of litter in the dell leading to Doe Hey Reservoir in Bradford Road, Great Lever, particularly behind the bus stop. The council's cleaners regularly clean this area but within days it's full again with plastic bags full of rubbish. Whoever is doing this is using the bus stop as a cover for their fly-tipping."

Julie, from Bolton, posted the following comment: "The corner of Longcauseway and Worsley Road in Farnworth is a mess. The fairground has left recently but it was a tip before they arrived."

To report a grot spot in your area, email: ayoussef@theboltonnews.co.uk or send letters to: Bin It For Bolton 2007, The Bolton News, Churchgate, Bolton, BL1 1DE.