RESIDENTS of a row of bungalows are to get help from the council to ensure the patch of land opposite their homes is no longer a “monstrosity”.

The householders from Highbank, Little Harwood, contacted the Lancashire Telegraph angry that Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council had stopped maintaining a patch of land opposite their homes.

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They said it had turned in to a “monstrosity” of overgrown plants, rubbish and potential home of vermin.

Eight months after originally asking the council for action, residents’ leader Karen Walmsley contacted the paper which contacted borough council environment boss Jim Smith.

He has now rung her and promised help to complete the levelling of the land and provide grass seeds to make it neat, tidy and pretty once again.

Already the residents have taken steps to clear much of the mess including hiring a mechanical digger to remove roots and rubbish from under the surface. Town Hall bosses, who admit they maintained the once carefully planted and bedded plot for several years, can no longer afford to look after it as it is not owned or ‘adopted’ by them.

Cllr Smith said: “I rang Ms Walmsley and said we would sort out the reseeding of the land.

“I have the grass seeds at my house and will deliver them to her.

“The residents do accept we do not own the land and have promised to do their bit and maintain it and keep it tidy.

“Under the council’s ‘Your Call’ initiative, we will be available in the background to so what we can help if needed in the future.”

Ms Walmsley, a 59-year-old contracts manager, said: “We and the council have met in the middle.

“Cllr Smith rang me and said it would help with the final levelling of the land and reseeding it with grass.

“The local residents have agreed to take over maintaining the land.

“We have already done a lot of the work.

“I can’t thank the Lancashire Telegraph enough for intervening to sort this out.

“And thank you to Cllr Smith for acting on our concerns.”

Little Harwood councillor Pat McFall also took up their case after the residents found condoms, syringes and needles and other unpleasant items in the undergrowth.