THE Mayor of Middlesbrough Ray Mallon has threatened to stop rubbish being cleared away from a street unless residents keep it tidy.

Mr Mallon said that Middlesbrough Council would clear up piles of rubbish at Kensington Road - but it would be the last time if the dumping did not stop.

His warning comes after domestic rubbish, rubble and large objects such as fridges dumped in the street have had to be removed every few days.

The council employs 20 litter pickers, a third of the team, to remove 3.5 tonnes of rubbish from the town's back lanes every day.

On the first anniversary of his Raising Hope initiative, Mr Mallon singled out Kensington Road, where the litter is so bad residents are also complaining about a rodent problem.

He said: "I am not going to waste any more public money on people who will not look after their own domain.

"We will spend the money elsewhere, on people who deserve it.

"This is not ruthless. It is commonsense.

"I have had enough and the people of Middlesbrough have had enough."

But the residents say they are the victims of illegal flytipping and the problem could be solved if the council installed gates at each end of the alley.

They feel it is unfair they all have to suffer because of the actions of a few.

Housewife Nicola Morley, 33, of Kensington Road, said "There are alley gates on most of the streets and that is why people come here to dump their rubbish.

"It has caused a terrible mouse problem and they run in the house when you open the back door."

Her husband Brian Morley, 38, said the council could catch those responsible by examining the rubbish for clues to the illegal dumpers, such as papers which had addresses on.

He said alley gates would block the lane to those who use it after dark for fly-tipping and it was unfair to tar all residents with the same brush.

This was echoed by taxi driver Nadeem Pervaiz, 34, who said Mr Mallon's plan was punishing everyone without finding those responsible.