A set of recycling banks at the Co-op supermarket in Glenfield are being removed after becoming a target for fly tippers and arsonists.

Blaby District Council made the decision to close the site which is costing taxpayers more than £15,000 a year to clean-up after all efforts to stop the illegal dumping failed.

Extra containers have been put in place over the last two years to deal with any overflow of materials but the centre has continued to be a hotspot for litter louts.

The paper and card bins have also been set alight twice in the last six months.

All the Council’s recycling banks will be removed by Friday March 30.

Councillor Guy Jackson, portfolio holder for regulatory and neighbourhood services said:

“Despite our efforts to stop the fly tippers every Monday morning we are faced with the task of cleaning up after people who are using the site as a dumping ground.

“Given the location it is impossible to limit use of the facilities to daylight hours so we have made the difficult decision to remove the banks altogether.”

All the materials currently collected at the site can be recycled through the Council’s fortnightly kerbside collection service and anyone who wants to request a larger or additional bin can do so online at www.blaby.gov.uk, by emailing env.health@blaby.gov.uk or by calling 0116 272 7555.

The Council will also be putting in extra (or larger ) banks at the County Hall recycling centre and people living in Glenfield can take any excess recycling there.