JUBILANT traders are celebrating after Bolton Council eventually cleared up a litter-strewn site - thanks to the Bolton Evening News.

The land behind the shops in Astley Bridge had become a dump for illegal fly-tippers turning it into a "disgusting" mess.

As reported in the BEN, the council refused for nearly a year to clear it up because of a dispute about who owned the land.

But the day after the BEN contacted the council, a van was sent to clear away the rubbish.

Alwyn Southworth, owner of repair shop Bolton Servicing Centre, Blackburn Road, said: "I can't believe it. It has taken us months to try to have the council come and clear it. I just want to thank the Bolton Evening News for getting action so fast."

The land, behind the Asda Superstore car park, has been plagued by all sorts of domestic rubbish and other items including old shoes, a carpet and several half-eaten take-away pizzas.

Residents believe a lot of the fly tipping is from people dumping cans and bottles instead of using the recycling bins on the bottom of the Asda car park.

They blame Bolton Council and Asda, who both own parts of the land, for not clearing away the debris.

Some of the land will eventually be redeveloped by Asda who are building a new petrol station on Blackburn Road and extending the car park.

A spokesman for Bolton Council said: "We've responded straight away with an urgent order and the land has been cleaned up.

"The ownership of the land is very complicated and the council only owns a small part. There is a problem with bags of rubbish being dumped over the wall when the recycling bin appears full. This falls onto land at the back of the garages which isn't in the council's ownership."