AROUND 300 tyres have been dumped at a moorland beauty spot.

Landowners North West Water are now facing a bill of around £400 to clean up the area at Rake Brook between Belmont and Abbey Village.

It is the second time in a month there has been illegal tipping in the area.

The tyres and builders' rubble were dumped overnight and discovered by Steve Watson, North West Water's land agent for the area.

He said today: "Words cannot describe what I think of the people who did this.

"This has been deliberate tipping. Someone has driven up a track and literally tipped the whole load from a lorry.

"The tyre tracks seem to indicate that this was a big wagon, possibly an articulated lorry.

"This is not an individual. It must be a commercial firm to have this quantity of tyres.

"This is completely unacceptable. There are many legitimate ways of disposing of tyres like this.

"Now we are going to have to pay for them to be removed."

Police at Darwen have been informed about the incident.