The bonfire at Ballycraigy estate in Antrim consists of at least 10,000 tyres, according to one resident.

And there is fear that property close to the bonfire, which is built on land owned by the Housing Executive, will be damaged once it is lit on the Eleventh night.

A resident who did not want to be named said people do not have a problem with the bonfire but are worried about the environmental damage the burning of tyres - which is illegal - will have on the local community.

"They have been collecting wood from March, then the last month they have been bringing the tyres in.

"They have been packing the tyres with an industrial machine, so it is twice the height of the houses. Last year we thought our windows were going to melt.

Then we are subjected to it smouldering for four weeks.

"Last year the council put skips around it to protect the houses in case it collapsed and the tyres fell off but this year it is twice as high."

"Nobody has anything against the bonfire, it is the tyres that are the problem."

The resident said they had contacted the council about their concerns, but nothing has been done.

"I want to know why no one can stop this, why can't they be done for illegal tipping?

"People are obviously scared to speak out."

Ulster Unionist councillor and chairman of the town's Bonfire Liaison Committee, Drew Ritchie, said: "We are well aware that there are tyres on the bonfire and we are in discussions with the local community to try and ensure the number of tyres on the bonfire is as little as possible.

"We want people to have a good night on bonfire night but we want to make sure they are as safe and environmentally clean as possible."

However, Deputy Mayor of Antrim Councillor Oran Keenan said there had been problems with fear and intimidation of staff at certain bonfire sites in Antrim.

"We have a couple of areas in Antrim which are giving us cause for concern, one of them is Ballycraigy," he said.

He said the site has not signed up to the code of conduct which was introduced by the council.

Mr Keenan, an independent councillor, said bonfire organisers have not engaged with any of the community groups to help reduce the damage the bonfire can do.

"There is an element of fear and intimidation at these sites where you cannot send staff in to remove tyres.

"Some of the tyres were collected for bonfires and some were dumped, we believe by unscrupulous tyre dealers."

A spokeswoman for the Housing Executive said: "In many council areas, including Antrim, bonfire liaison committees have been established and the Housing Executive participates fully in these.

"We are working with local people in an effort to ensure safe management of the bonfire site at Ballycraigy."