FLY-TIPPERS have dumped rubbish containing drug paraphernalia at the side of a residential street.

Residents were furious after the black bags were found on Gower Street in Farnworth.

Peter Mann, a youth worker who lives nearby, claims the bags have been there for three months.

The 38-year-old, who claims he has made several requests to Bolton Council to have the rubbish moved, said: “There are between 20 and 30 black bin bags full of soil used for growing marijuana plants, nutrient bottles and the remains of the plants, which have been dumped there, presumably by those who have been using it to harvest the buds.”

Mr Mann initially took his complaint to local authority firm Bolton at Home who said they would take up his concerns and get the bags removed.

After waiting three weeks he says he contacted them again only to be told it was Bolton Council land and he should report it to them.

However, to his frustration he found it almost impossible to speak with anyone at Bolton Council and was advised by the council that he needed to report it online and it would be dealt with.

He explained: “I have now been waiting at least three months for somebody to come along and deal with it and when I contacted police on the advice of a council official, they said it was up to Bolton Council to move them.”

“Bolton Council has been saying publicly that it is cracking down on fly-tipping, yet I have complained online twice, but still nobody seems to be in the slightest bit bothered in shifting these bags.”

“Fly-tipping is antisocial and inconsiderate and we will always aim to pursue and prosecute those responsible.

A spokesman for Bolton Council said: “We regularly remove fly-tipping from any council land and public highways, but fly-tipping on private land is the responsibility of the landowner. We received a report of these black bags in January and as they are on private land, we are currently pursuing the landowner to ensure that they remove the waste as soon as possible. Anti-social people who fly-tip show a complete disregard for the people of Bolton and we would encourage all residents to report fly-tips into the council and any other information that will help us identify the culprits.”