RUBBISH has been left strewn across a field near the M61 after it blew away from a nearby waste and recycling site.

Litter including plastic bags were hanging from trees and scattered across grass verges on the land near Chequerbent roundabout in Westhoughton.

It is thought the rubbish was blown from a nearby waste and recycling site.

Cllr David Chadwick, who represents Westhoughton South on Bolton Council, said: "As far as I am concerned, this is a major incident.

"This area is now strewn with letter. There is rubbish and blue plastic, which is hanging in the trees and on the grass verges.

"It has been windy recently but I'm sorry, this is no excuse.

"They know what they have to do to comply with the regulations and they have not done it.

"This will be a major clear-up operation. From what I have been told, someone is going to have to bring a cherry picker.

"I understand the Environment Agency is now involved. That's how serious the situation is.

"Clearly there will be an expense that will be covered by Bolton Council."

He also said that it ruined all the hard work that was being done by volunteers across the community.

There are a number of organisations in the area that try to clean the area, including Daisy Hill in Bloom.

"Westhoughton has a fantastic community spirit and I know that community groups do a lot of clean-ups around the area.

"This is diabolical, horrendous and unacceptable."

A spokesman for Bolton Council confirmed the incident was being looked into by environmental officers at the authority.