VILLAGERS have been left fuming as fly-tipped rubbish in a back alleyway looks set to become a public health hazard.

Neighbours believe the refuse was dumped there by tenants from a privately rented house on Frederick Street, Coundon, Bishop Auckland.

Alan and Nancy Aldsworth, of West End Villas – whose bungalow backs onto the fenced area containing the rubbish - first complained to Durham County Council last June.

The frustrated couple have since made around 30 phone calls to the authority, but nothing so far has been done.

A discarded three-piece suite, along with other items of garden and household refuse, are now believed to be attracting rats.

The retired pair fear for their grandchildren’s and neighbour’s health, many of whom have children.

Retired construction worker Mr Aldsworth, 65, said: “There’s a really bad smell and our grandchildren who come to visit us cannot play out in the back garden for fear there might be rats in there.”

Neighbour, Joanne Fowler, 32, who has three children under five, said: “You would think that the council would move the rubbish first then charge the owners for it.”

John Fowler, a 35 year-old farmer, recently rang the property’s Easington-based letting agency, Castledene about further problems when around 20 bin bags and raw sewage were spotted in the Frederick Street back yard.

Catherine Pentland, Castledene’s Bishop Auckland branch manager, said they had only recently become aware of the problem, adding: “Until the neighbours called us we were relying on the tenants to inform us.

£The tenant was worried he would be landed with a huge bill so he didn’t. Now we know about it, we will clear the rubbish and investigate the drains.”

The bin bags, which were also attracting rats, have now been removed and work to stop the sewage has started – both done by Castledene.

Ian Hoult, the council’s neighbourhood protection manager, said: “We are aware of concerns about the property and have been trying to contact the owners. We have served notice requesting them to remedy the problems and also issued a Fixed Penalty Notice when they failed to do so.

“As the problem had still not been resolved, we have now taken further action.”

He added: “We will also attempt to remove the three-piece suite, which is on unregistered land.”