'Fly-tipping at our nature reserve is disgusting'

"Disgusting" fly-tipping is blighting a popular beauty spot.

Rubbish including household waste, vehicle parts and plastic cables are among the items found dumped at the Three Sisters Nature Reserve in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Alan Harper, 90, from Standish Lower Ground, said: "It disgusts me that people could seek to spoil parts of the park by tipping waste."

Wigan Council said it was "deeply disappointing" to see this behaviour and it would be working to clear the affected areas over the next few weeks.

Harper said: "I'm certain the vast majority of people who come here care deeply about it, it's like a community, people want to enhance the area not destroy it."

A number of other visitors to the wildlife wetland reserve said they had also noticed a rise in fly-tipping over the past few weeks.

Sylvia Gee, 80, from Worsley Mesnes, said: "A minority of people have no respect for anything.

"Look around, what type of person would harm this environment."

Adam Saxon, from Bryn, said the reserve was "a brilliant place to come" with his family.

"I doubt those coming here to dump their rubbish are local as people round here are so proud of the place," he said.

The reserve takes its name from three large spoil heaps, known locally as the "three sisters".

Rewilding at the former industrial wasteland has resulted in a diverse mix of wildlife being supported, including the nationally rare willow tit, one of five RSPB red listed birds in the area, alongside the jay, chaffinch and great spotted woodpecker.

The 738-hectare site is one of England's largest urban nature reserves, Natural England has previously said.

It is also popular for fishing, cycling, nature walks and birdwatching and is a gateway into the wider Wigan Flashes nature reserve.

A Wigan Council spokesperson said: "It is deeply disappointing to see this type of activity taking place on a valued nature reserve, which is there for enjoyment of residents and the protection of wildlife."

They said they were investigating and had identified several areas around the site where waste had been fly-tipped, with work to take place on site to clear the waste and "restore the environment".

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.