THOUSANDS of used tyres dumped in a lock-up have finally been recycled as an investigation into the abandoned haul continues.

The Environment Agency launched a probe after 16,000 were found in Ardwick.

Bosses at Maryland Security, who owned the railway arch storage point, claimed that the landlord had stopped paying rent and disappeared.

They said they were left stunned after opening the doorway of the arch to find it crammed from floor to ceiling.

Under European Guidelines it is now illegal to dump most types of tyres on landfill sites.

In some cases traders claim they are falling foul of businesses they pay to pick up and recycle old tyres.

They say the firms are doing no more than dumping the tyres.

Environment bosses said the problem of dumped tyres had become a `major issue' in Manchester.

The Ardwick haul was collected by Saltire Recovery who sent them to Sapphire Energy Recovery's Manchester site, where they were reduced to two-inch chippings.

They were then sent to be used as a fuel alternative to coal to in a cement kiln.

Maryland have been left to pick up the estimated £15,000 cost, but have said they will press for legal action against the man who stored the tyres - Naseer Iqbal.

He rented the arch last October, but Maryland say he stopped paying rent in March. Mr Iqbal is understood to have collected the tyres in exchange for a fee. He denies any wrongdoing and said he would have eventually organised for the tyres to be recycled.

An Environment Agency investigation into the episode is continuing.

Keith Rodgers, of Saltire, said tyre dumps were `not only illegal, but a disaster waiting to happen'.

He added: "We're pleased we've been able to help ensure these tyres were safely disposed of in a quick and environmentally responsible way."

Used tyres have been used as a sustainable fuel alternative for the cement industry for over a decade. Experts say the system provides an environmentally outlet for the approximate 40 million dumped in Britain each year.

Ryan Miffin, from Sapphire, added: "We've made significant investment in recent years to improve the facilities at our dedicated tyre processing Partington site which meant we were able to deal with such a high volume of tyres at such short notice."