THOUSANDS of tyres have been dumped at a disused lodge off Britannia Street in Great Harwood.
Worried residents of Water Street, which backs onto the site, are concerned about the potential fire hazard and are calling for action from the council.
Michael Dowling said men used to operate from the site, charging local garages to dispose of used tyres before sending them off for recycling.
He said: "Every week 40ft lorries came to take the tyres away. All of a sudden it’s just stopped. It’s been like this for about a month now. There have been no more coming and no more going out of the site.
"I have reported it to the council and the environmental health officers and we are just waiting for some movement.
"All it needs is someone silly enough to set fire to it. The smoke would be toxic."
Fellow Water Street resident Stephen Grihault, 44, added: "There must be about 5,000 tyres there. There are some on the strip of land at the back as well.
"It’s a fire hazard. If they go up it’s going to take firefighters ages to put out and the smoke would be horrendous."
Another neighbour added: "You can see all the tyres from the back bedroom window. It’s an eyesore."
Hyndburn Council has put a sign on the fence serving notice on the site owners to clean up.
Polis Real Estate (Harwood) Ltd secured outline planning permission for 79 dwellings in November 2008.
The owners were served with a notice to clean up and fence the site on 6 January after initial requests failed.
They now have until 23 March to comply before further action is taken.
The council has also brought in the Environment Agency.
Councillor Peter Clarke, deputy leader and Cabinet member for environmental issues, said: "This problem is getting out of hand and I’m determined that, with our colleagues at the Environment Agency, we will use every available power to restore the land to good condition."
Polis Real Estate (Harwood) Ltd could not be contacted for comment.
