A pensioner claims household appliances dumped on a bonfire opposite her home could cause a health hazard.

Joyce Bean, 70, of Lilycroft Walk, Toller, Bradford, is angry items including a television set and oven were burned as part of the celebrations on November 5.

She is concerned people have used the event as an excuse to get rid of old rubbish instead of tipping it properly.

"There were things on there that shouldn't have been burned in the first place. They've thrown suites, beds, mattresses, bags of foil, everything you can think of, there's even an oven," she said.

"People should be told these things are not for burning, it's not doing the atmosphere any good and it is a health hazard, the fumes it gives off."

"This stuff shouldn't be on the field at all, most of it should be taken away properly."

Mrs Bean contacted Bradford Council to get them to take away the mess and when they arrived yesterday she said they took three loads of charred rubbish away.

Ward Councillor Arshad Hussain, (Con, Toller) said throughout the city there was always a lot of rubbish left after bonfire night but this time he had contacted the police after a car was burned and left on the field.

Mrs Bean, who lives on a street occupied by elderly people, said bonfire night has been a problem for many years but this time it was far worse and was making people's lives a misery.

"Someone pinched our fence posts for fire wood, we had stones thrown at the house and the fireworks go on and on every night. Some of them have more than 25 repeat explosionss. It's like living in a war zone. We've seen the kids who are doing it - some are as young as seven.

"It is time Guy Fawkes died and we forgot about him after all these years, it is nothing more than hooligans. All the elderly residents are fed up. It's about time something was done," she said.

A Bradford Council housing spokesman said the department was aware of the problems on the land, which is currently for sale.

"Unfortunately people use this area of green space as a rubbish dump all year round and we regularly clear it as it is council land," he said.

"Several parties have expressed an interest in the land and if a future development takes place this will permanently solve the problem."