Walking Broadgreen’s alleyways , the Advertiser counted more than two dozen piles of dumped waste.

In one pile, which showed evidence of having been burned, was a dead rat - its hind legs and tail clearly visible above the detritus of scorched beer cans, rags and wood.

Elsewhere, bottles of urine had been scattered among dumped household waste. What appeared to be human excrement had also been smeared on a chocolate packet.

And in another alleyway between Elmina Road and Station Road, an old-fashioned wooden cabinet TV had been left a minute’s walk away from a more modern widescreen set.

Fridges, mattresses and wood were among the more popular items to be flytipped.

But perhaps the saddest piece of rubbish seen was a bouquet of cut price red roses, mouldering behind Gooch Street.