PILES of rubbish were removed from a Huntingdon garden on Tuesday after complaints from neighbours. It was taken away by council refuse collectors under the supervision of environmental health officers and police. Huntingdonshire District Council wrote

PILES of rubbish were removed from a Huntingdon garden on Tuesday after complaints from neighbours.

It was taken away by council refuse collectors under the supervision of environmental health officers and police.

Huntingdonshire District Council wrote to Lee John Mailes, of Thongsley, in July asking him to clear bags of household rubbish from his garden because the waste was creating a nuisance, attracting insects and causing a smell.

The council gave Mailes time to clear the waste or to contact staff and arrange for the rubbish to be removed at a cost. After failing to reply, Mailes was taken to court and fined £100 plus £100 costs.

Mailes still failed to remove the rubbish so the council returned to court to obtain a warrant to gain entry to the property.

The council will invoice Mailes for the cost of the clean-up operation.

Councillor Deborah Reynolds, whose executive responsibilities include environmental and community health, said: "As part of our commitment to a clean, green and attractive environment, we want to encourage people to maintain their gardens to an acceptable standard. We will certainly take enforcement action in isolated cases such as this where standards are clearly unacceptable.

"Formal enforcement is not an option we choose lightly but cases like this show the council will take action against those disturb their neighbourhoods."

INFORMATION: Waste can be taken to household waste recycling centres at Alconbury, Bluntisham, Buckden and St Neots. Council refuse and recycling collections are on alternate weeks. To find out your collection schedule call 01480 388388.