PEOPLE have been urged to stop dumping old food in a Pendle park.

Piles of bread and other food is being left to rot in Victoria Park, in Nelson, which is attracting vermin, according to local councillors.

Residents have expressed their concern about the issue to their councillors and Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson.

Residents say that the food waste is turning the park into an unpleasant place to visit.

The food is believed to be leftovers from a nearby business or takeaway but it is unclear who exactly is responsible for dumping the food.

Barrowford councillor Linda Crossley said: “There are posters displayed on the board next to the lake and the council regularly put laminated posters on the fence to ask people not to leave food at the lakeside and to give advice on feeding the birds on the lake.

"Sadly people persist in leaving out food and often these posters are removed.

“I’m sure whoever is doing it thinks that the park is a good way of getting rid of old food and bread or that the birds will eat it but, in reality, it is causing problems and we need them to stop.”

Pendle Council confirmed that the park keepers and their Environmental Crime Team regularly patrol the park to try to catch the culprits. But they have to rely heavily on information from the public as they have to be there to witness the act before they can take action.

The resident park keeper does clean up any food waste both when it is reported and when he comes across it.

Mr Stephenson, who raised the issue with Pendle Council, said: “Sadly this is a longstanding problem about which the council receives many complaints. Pendle Council park keepers are working hard to catch the offenders and those responsible should be in no doubt that this is wrong and should stop.”