CAMPAIGN: PEOPLE across north and west Wiltshire have joined our campaign to stop people dumping rubbish and reported instances of illegal fly tipping near their homes.

The Wiltshire Times & Chippenham News launched a Don't Dump It campaign three weeks ago and since then readers have been calling in with examples of where rubbish has been dumped.

Reports this week have included a burnt out car and builders' rubbish dumped near Hilperton Wharf and piles of garden waste left in Farleigh Avenue, Trowbridge.

Residents in Frome Road, like many areas of north and west Wiltshire, are sick and tired of anti-social people abandoning unwanted domestic appliances, bags of rubbish and unwanted vehicles near their homes.

Recent appearances include an abandoned car, bags of rubbish and a fridge in the car park of the old Trowbridge football ground, off Frome Road.

Neighbour Ruth Lamming, of Frome Road, said: "It is becoming an eyesore. Residents are fed up with it. People are always dumping stuff. It is an absolute nightmare and a mess. It should not be happening."

Anyone spotting someone dumping rubbish has been urged to take down the vehicle's registration number and contact their district council.

People living in the northern area of west Wiltshire will have no excuse for dumping their rubbish from today.

A new recycling centre in Melksham will be named after popular resident David Sprules, who was killed in a road crash earlier this year.

His widow, Marjorie, was due to attend the opening of the centre today, which has been named after one of the town's best-known characters.

Mr Sprules, 67, of Woodrow Road was killed when a Volkswagen van travelling along Sandridge Road towards Melksham careered into his bicycle trailer in July.

He died at the scene despite paramedics battling to save his life.

Melksham mayor Vic Oakman said naming the recycling centre after Mr Sprules would be a fitting tribute, as he was well-known for collecting scrap metal and materials around the town.

He said: "Mr Sprules did a wonderful unpaid service in the town.

"I was looking for something to remember him by as he was such a popular man.

"I thought about a bench but it would be vandalised within seconds.

"Someone then came up to me at a summer fete and said about a plaque at the recycling centre, but we decided to go one stage further.

"I cleared it with West Wiltshire District Council and got the all-clear at a committee meeting.

"I hope the recycling centre is used by people in Melksham, it is much better than paying for unwanted goods to be taken away.

Based at Bowerhill the centre will be known as the David Sprules Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Oil, plastic bottles, garden waste, cardboard, cans, metals, white goods including fridges and cookers and textiles can all be recycled at the centre, which is due to be unveiled at 12pm.

The centre is the second of its kind in Wiltshire with an established site already set up in Furnax Lane, Warminster.

The district council has also bought up land in Canal Road, Trowbridge, for a third waste centre to be built during 2002.

Hills Waste has been contracted to run the centres in Melksham and Trowbridge.

The Wiltshire Times & Chippenham News want to hear if you know about any dumped rubbish. Please phone our newsdesk on (01225) 777292 or email wtimes@newswilts.co.uk.