A CAMPAIGN to reduce the number of wheelie bin fires in Bolton is being launched by town hall and fire chiefs.

Details of the initiative were announced on the day an inquest was held into the deaths of Hameeda Begum, aged 71, and her granddaughter, Alana Mian, aged four, who died in a house fire.

Fire had spread to their house in Little Holme Walk, Great Lever, when a wheelie bin was set alight.

It has emerged that between April 2009 and June 2010, there were 323 wheelie bin fires in Bolton, the second highest number for the Greater Manchester boroughs.

Great Lever, Halliwell, Farnworth and the Crompton ward have been highlighted as areas of particular concern.

The campaign, which will be launched this afternoon at Bolton central fire station in Moor Lane, also aims to target the number of burglaries where bins are used to gain access into houses.

Between July 2008 and June 2010, Bolton had 58 such house break-ins, the fourth highest in the Greater Manchester area.

Cllr Sufrana Bashir-Ismail, Bolton Council’s Executive Member for Cleaner, Greener, Safer said: “Whilst it may seem like a minor problem, residents leaving bins out after collection can leave themselves at risk of bin fires which can spread to their property.

“They are also at risk of burglary, as the bin is used as a step to gain access to a back garden or windows in a property.”

The campaign is the next phase of a bigger “behavioural change” initiative to educate residents to take in their wheelie bins after they have been emptied.

Campaign co-ordinators say this reduces the risk of arsonists setting the bin on fire — as well as the opportunity for thieves to use them for house burglaries.

Residents are also urged to put bins out only on the days they are being collected and to bring them in as soon as possible afterwards, ensuring they are stored in a secure place.

They are also asked not to place bins close to doors and windows to stop bin fires spreading to the property.

As part of the campaign, messages will be displayed on the side of bin waggons and posters will be placed in librgaries, one-stop shops and council offices.

Stickers will also be put on bins in areas where there have been a large number of bin fires, reinforcing the safety message.

Town hall chiefs say they will carry out enforcement action against persistent offenders who leave their bins out, which could result in fines.