A BUSINESSMAN is urging people to help rid Holmfirth of litter and rubbish.

Vandals have been hurling traffic cones, roadwork screens and beer barrels into the River Holme.

And dumped crisp packets, beer cans and plastic bottles are creating eyesores throughout the Home Valley.

Royston Rogers, a member of Holme Valley Business Association, is urging families and individuals to help with a series of clean-ups .

Five days have been earmarked for people to roll up their sleeves and embark upon the project to spruce up the district.

Kirklees councillors Ken Sims, Donald Firth and Keith Patrick have pledged their support.

Mr Rogers said: "If we clean up Holmfirth, residents and tourists are going to think it a better place to live and work.

"At the moment, people going into Holmfirth cannot believe the mess that is there - considering it is meant to be a tourist attraction.

"It does not get treated like a tourist centre by the yobs and we have to take them to task."

The clean-ups are planned for Saturday and Sunday, April 24 and 25, Saturday, May 1, and possibly Sunday and Monday , May 2 and 3, if there is more work to be done.

Holmfirth town centre is one of the target spots, along with the areas around the Elephant and Castle pub, the cattle market and the caravan park at Thongsbridge.

Mr Rogers, who runs a pet shop, said he was also encouraging dog owners to clean up after their dogs foul the streets and other public areas.

For more information on the clean-ups log on to holme-valley.co.uk