A WOMAN today challenged Kirklees Council: Let's clean up Huddersfield.

Mrs Eileen Marchant, of Lockwood, a Huddersfield magistrate, said she was disgusted at the amount of rubbish littering the town's streets.

So much so that she armed herself with a camera and captured grot spots on a walk from her home to the town centre.

Her call for action has been welcomed by Kirklees bosses.

Paul Whittaker, the council's cleansing manager, urged people concerned about litter to contact the council hotline and let them know.

The rubbish can then be cleared by the council's 130-strong army of street sweepers, added Mr Whittaker.

Mrs Marchant said: "Every time I walk around the town and surrounding areas I despair at the amount of litter.

"I cannot believe our elected members walk anywhere or they, too, would see the disgusting state of Huddersfield.

"I am always pleased to see the many grand plans the councillors have for the town, such as the development down Chapel Hill, St George's Square and Southgate.

"The list is endless - but isn't it time they got down to basics and looked for solutions to the awful litter problem?

"The pictures I took on my walk to and from the town centre to Lockwood show the disgusting state of Huddersfield.

"For every photograph there could have been a dozen more. Most of the litter has been there for months."

Mr Whittaker said there were regular rounds for the street sweepers and they worked hard.

He added: "We also respond to calls from the public.

"If they tell us about a particular troublespot we will try to take action as quickly as possible.

"We also have enforcement teams, handing out fines for people seen dropping litter and taking others to court.

"Only last week we had a man fined £5,000 by Huddersfield magistrates for dumping rubbish at Kilner Bank.

"It is a big problem. Unfortunately, people these days do not seem to care what they do with their litter.

"We put in a lot of resources to try and keep the town tidy.

"If we have details of problem areas, we will try an clean them up."

* The council hotline for members of the public to ring about litter problems is 0800 731 8765.