GARDENS and estates in parts of Farnworth and Kearsley resemble "slums of times long past" according to a councillor who this week will be calling for larger bins to be reinstated for families who need it.

Cllr Maureen Flitcroft has put forward a motion at this week's meeting of the full council asking for a simpler system to identify families who are in need of a new big.

Bolton Council controversially introduced in June 2016, replacing residents' 240-litre grey bins for smaller 140 litre versions in a move to save money and increase recycling levels.

Cllr Flitcroft of Farnworth and Kearsley First said she accepted the introduction of the slim-bin has brought financial saving but has also brought misery to some families.

"For some families it is horrendous they having to go to the tip every week. I was talking to one family of five and they are having to go to the tip three times a week because they do not qualify for a larger bin.

"Families do recycle, this family is eco-friendly. Imagine if this family had a baby and had nappies."

Cllr Flitcroft said that some of the garden and estates in the area "look more akin to slums of times long past than modern housing estates" .

The motion states: "Many people have taken to dumping the excess rubbish in communal areas, burning it in their own garden, sifting through neighbours' bins for space, burying at the bottom of their recycling bin ­— potentially deeming the load unfit for recycling ­— paying private companies to dispose of their waste, or taking normal grey-bin waste to the tip".

"This is causing extra work for the street cleansing department, and I believe that flytipping has increased since the introduction of the slim bins," said Cllr Flitcroft, "There are people who are burning their rubbish, which is very dangerous, in the dry heat it just takes a spark to catch a shed or a fence."

The motion adds: "the current bin audit is too stringent and that a simpler system should be introduced.

"Utilising available records it should be possible to establish the number of residents in each property in the borough which could she light on the general need of the big bin in larger households."

Cllr Flitcroft said: "We want larger bins for families who need them."