An Ardrossan burn is overwhelmed with rubbish, vermin and animal waste, says one resident.

Stanley Burn runs the length of the town, underneath Stanley Road, through the Plantation and down to the South Beach.

But the once pleasant rivulet is now a source of despair.

Danny Donald, whose home is by Stanley Burn, said: “It is causing a headache for the residents of Laird Weir as not only is it an eyesore for residents and by passers, but it is a breeding ground for vermin which I have witnessed countless times.

“The smell is getting worse with the summer heat, and I’m fed up with having to face it every morning.”

Danny, 31, was born and bred on the street and said the burn was well taken care of when he was a kid.

Over the years he has seen it get progressively worse.

He and other residents are worried they won’t get any warning if floodwater breaks the burn’s banks due to all the vegetation.

He said: “I’ve called the council only recently and told them if they go down there they’ll find household waste, white goods, and probably Jimmy Hoffa.

“I wake up, I open the blind, I take two looks at it and I close the blinds again.

“I’ve seen four people carrying a fridge freezer like a coffin and throw it into the burn.”

The Herald highlighted concerns around the Laird Weir area in 2016, but Danny said that little-to-no action has been taken.

He told the Herald: “I would like someone to take responsibility, take charge and maintain it to make it as presentable as it was years ago.”

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “Regular inspections of the burn have taken place throughout the year and we have determined that the growth of vegetation is not impeding the flow of water in any way.

“The area would normally be flailed, however operations staff have been working on other priority areas as part of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We hope to carry out work in the area over the coming weeks.”

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