SKIPS will be provided around Darwen this weekend in a bid to cut down on fly-tipping at Christmas.

Skips have been left around the borough over the last few Saturdays, and the council has decided to put them in the town this time around.

The initiative is a way of saying ‘thank you’ to residents after a successful year for the council’s Your Call initiative.

Skips will be in Preston Street, Starkie Street, Kay Street and at the junction of Powell Street and Industry Street.

Blackburn with Darwen Council executive member for environment Coun Jim Smith said: “I urge residents to take advantage of this programme and not fly- tip.”

The skips will be free to use from 8.30am and will be operated on a first-come first-served basis.

When the skip is full, it will be taken away.