THE bulldozers moved in yesterday to clean up one of Bolton's worst eyesores.

It is the first victory in our Bin It For Bolton campaign.

For weeks, piles of rubbish had been left rotting in a back street in Farnworth, endangering the health of angry families living nearby.

But yesterday, just 24 hours after highlighting the issue on our front page and alerting Bolton Council, the mountain of rubbish was swept away.

It took three hours for a council clean up team to clear the rubbish from the unmade road at the back of Cawdor Street and Campbell Street.

A delighted Mohammed Waheed, aged 39, of Campbell Street, said: "Who knows what health hazards the rubbish was causing."

The Bolton Evening News is campaigning with the council and local businessman Andrew Dickson to clean up the streets and crack down on the litter louts and fly tippers plaguing the borough.

The council's get tough policy will include on-the-spot fines of £50 for anyone seen dropping litter - including chewing gum and cigarette ends.

Deputy Leader of Bolton Council, Guy Harkin is urging residents to support the campaign. He said: "I very much welcome the stance the Bolton Evening News is taking.

"We need to take punitive action - because punishment is the only language the litter louts understand - and at the same encourage people to take responsibility for the rubbish on their own doorsteps."

The council plans to spend up to £100,000 on the scheme, which will include a poster campaign and employment of an education officer to take the keep Bolton tidy message to schools and colleges.