MUM Veronica Hammett was horrified when she saw what her tiny daughters had uncovered in the garden of her new home.

What she found was the maggot-covered remains of a badly decomposed Alsatian-type dog.

And her horror turned to anger when the evil smelling carcass was left for more than 24 hours.

Veronica, 24, of Brunshaw Avenue, Burnley, said: "My daughters, Sophie, three, and Cassie, 18 months, went out to play in the garden.

"Sophie came in and said she had found something. She did not know what it was but when I saw it I was horrified.

"I got the children out of the way and rang the council for help.

"I was passed from one department to another and advised to dig it up and bag it ready for collection.

"My brother did that but no-one came to collect it.''

Veronica said: "The smell is awful and the garden is alive with maggots.

"I have had to shut all the windows and keep the children inside. My neighbours are complaining and I am being fobbed off by the council.''

Andrew Mason, environmental health and cleansing manager, said: "A pest control officer is on the way up there and will spray to get rid of any maggots remaining.

"I have also arranged for UK Waste to go along as a matter of urgency to take it away.

"This is not the first instance we have had of this kind and shows what lengths people will go to avoid proper disposal of animals.''

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.