A BOLTON man claims binmen are victimising him because he reported them for littering.

William Kelly, of Darley Street, Farnworth, says he believes he is at the target of an "awkwardness" campaign.

In the latest incident, binmen refused to take a small cardboard box because they said it was too bulky for their refuse lorry.

But Mr Kelly says he had flattened it and managed to fit it inside his wheelie-bin.

Mr Kelly, 51, a fireman, said: "It's disgusting.

"I am a working man and happy to pay my rates but I don't want to pay for a service I'm not getting."

The row was sparked after a neighbour of Mr Kelly put an extra bin out and left it near the Kelly's back gate.

After the bins had been emptied, Mr Kelly found piles of rubbish dumped next to his bin.

His wife Sandra, 52, said: "I think they were just annoyed there were three bins there. They emptied most of my rubbish onto the floor.

Threatened

"Now they say we should take the cardboard box to the refuse tip but why should I since it is part of my domestic rubbish."

The couple have even been threatened with a fine if they do not move the cardboard which was left lying on the ground by the binmen.

It comes just a few weeks after Bolton Council won an award from the Tidy Britain Group as recognition for its litter-busting efforts.

A Bolton Council spokesman said: "We have spoken to Mrs Kelly and assured her we are certainly not picking on them and she has accepted this.

"Meanwhile one of our inspectors will be called in to look into the situation.

"We do ask that if people have large cardboard items that they cut and fold them to fit into the bin so they can be collected in the normal way."

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