Claire Sykes returned home to find several upturned bags of litter including trays of perscription drugs, food, beer cans and clothes.

She thinks the rubbish could have been dumped by pranksters over Hallowe'en but is annoyed after being forced to clean up the mess herself.

Miss Sykes, 26, of Claremount Road, Claremount, Halifax, has a two-year-old daughter, Lacey.

She contacted Calderdale Council and an environmental health officer took an empty pill box with the name of a patient who, she was told, would be written to.

"But Environmental Health said it was my responsibility to get rid of the rubbish but to be careful because of rats," she said.

"I have a child. There is a nursery across the road and prescription drugs are in my yard having not been disposed off properly.

"It is appalling. My yard is full of someone else's rubbish and nobody is taking responsibility."

Miss Sykes reluctantly removed the rubbish with the help of her landlord.

Peter Broadbent, Calderdale's environmental protection manager, said: "We have visited Miss Sykes and are now taking action to identify the offender."