EACH year enough litter is flung on the ground in Huddersfield to bury the length of New Street in 25ft of rubbish.

That's the equivalent of 300,000 full dustbin liners or 5,000 skips.

So where do all the wrappers, food, drink cans and cigarette ends go?

The job of shifting the mess we leave falls to a determined band who venture out in all weathers to make sure our streets are kept clean.

There are more than 70 staff who tackle the never-ending job of cleaning up after the litter louts.

John Beckett, 44, area manager for cleansing in Kirklees, said his department's job was to make sure the public didn't notice a litter problem.

"It is getting worse and has been for a number of years," said Mr Beckett who joined the department in 1986.

"That means it gets more difficult to manage keeping the streets clean. But we still have to continue to provide the highest possible standards.

"We aim not to be seen by the public. If they don't know where the rubbish goes we are doing something right."

Daytime sweepers, a rapid response team and early morning litter collectors are the front line in the battle against rubbish.

Mr Beckett hit out at people who threw rubbish on the ground rather than using the 5,000 litter bins in Kirklees.

He added: "There are more than enough bins on our streets, but people seem reluctant to use them. Instead, they just drop their litter once they have finished.

"It amazes me that people will walk past a bin, then drop rubbish. It is just as easy to put it in a bin."

The cleansing department believes the best way to stop people dropping litter is to go in to primary and high schools and educate the youngsters about why they should use bins.

In his role as environmental education officer it is Mike Goodwin's job to get the message through to children.

He said: "We visit about 30 schools a year, ranging from the smallest primary to the biggest secondary.

"Every school has different issues, so we have to cater what type of activities we do with the pupils.

"It is all about explaining to the children their responsibilities within the community. We are already seeing the benefits of educating people, and as time goes by those results will get better and better."