Bradford Council was today accused of putting residents at risk amid claims workers failed to collect rubbish in a community clean-up - and firebugs set it alight.

The clean-up scheme - headed by Bradford Trident and the Council - encouraged residents in Ransdale Road, Little Horton Lane to Thornton Lane, Smiddles Lane and Manchester Road to clear their homes of unwanted items.

Flyers advertising the rubbish collection on Sunday morning were distributed by the Council.

But residents in Marshfield Place claimed they saw collection vans go past the bottom of their street - and never return. The residents took turns to stay awake during the night to prevent arsonists taking advantage of the dumped goods. Firefighters attended a blaze at 3.30am.

It is the second time in recent months the Council has been accused of encouraging community clean-ups and then not attending.

Debbie Deb-Nath, pictured, of Marshfield Place, said residents made a good effort to clear out their unwanted things on Sunday. "There were piles of rubbish all the way down the street," she said. "People had come in vans and dumped their stuff as well so the pile was about 12 feet high."

Miss Deb-Nath, 26, a civil servant, contacted the Council on Sunday night after speaking to others about the rubbish. "It was obvious that it was a fire hazard and would attract vandals. I rang the Council and left messages," she said. "I'm angry with the way the scheme has been organised. It shouldn't have gone ahead if the resources were not available."

Naheed Akhtar, 26, who also lives in Marshfield Place, was especially worried about her mother because she had been involved in a house fire recently. "She had nightmares," she said.

A Council cleansing spokesman said: "Unfortunate-ly, it seems some people from outside the area dumped rubbish, including building waste, at the pick-up points after the clean-up had finished. Also, a number of residents were still placing refuse onto the streets after the clean-up ended and this made the situation worse. The Council's emergency night team started to clear rubbish in response to calls from residents.

"We are sorry that residents were distressed by the behaviour of a thoughtless minority and would ask anyone with information about rubbish being illegally dumped on streets to contact the council's cleansing unit on (01274) 431000."

It is the second time there have been complaints.

Residents of all ages turned up to clean rubbish off Scotchman Road playing fields in Heaton in April. The Council's cleansing staff, who were to bring a truck, gloves, litter pickers and bags, did not arrive.

Residents carried out the clean-up unaided and the rubbish was removed by the Council a few days later.