A BRADFORD businessman is calling for action over persistent fly-tipping in the street behind his firm, which he says is unsightly and attracting rats.

Saleh Mohammed Malik, who runs an accountancy firm from offices on Manningham Lane, said he had reported the problem to Bradford Council a number of times since February. He had been told that action would be taken, but the piles of black bin bags and other waste remained.

He said he was under the impression that the land in question was public, but according to the Council, it is an area of private land.

Mr Malik said: "At the back of my office, right behind the building, there is a big tip of rubbish which keeps getting bigger. I first reported the issue in February, but nothing has been done about it, and it is now stinking.

"I've spoken to the Council and they keep promising they will remove it, but then it doesn't happen.

"It's unsightly and a health hazard because it is attracting rats.

"It's absolutely disgusting."

A spokesman for the Council said: “This is an area of private land. Investigations into waste issues have been carried out in the area and enforcement action commenced.

“Mr Malik has been updated by the investigating officer.”

After the visit Mr Malik, who runs Malik Chopdat & Co accountants, said he welcomed the moves, but was still waiting for the waste to be cleared up.

"The Council officer said they would be able to clear the waste and then try to clean the street," he added.

The Council revealed last month that it costs the authority about £228,500 a year to clean up fly-tipping around the district.

Figures also revealed that the cost of clearing up fly-tipped waste between December and March was between £70,000 and £80,000.

Earlier this year the Council warned people with litter-strewn gardens, and businesses who dump waste in yards to clear them up or face the consequences.

Under the tough new laws, householders and businesses who fail to clean-up could end up in court and being hit with a fine of up to £2,500 and £20,000 respectively.

It comes as the authority introduced a zero-tolerance crackdown on litterbugs and encouraged people to report anyone they see dropping rubbish in public.