Bradford’s streets are dirtier than any other are across Yorkshire and Humber and are the seventh worst in the country, according to official figures.

A list of the filthiest places in the region, compiled from Audit Commission data published by the GMB union, showed 36 per cent of Bradford’s roads were found to be dirty with natural detritus and 19 per cent have unacceptable levels of man-made litter.

The litter is mainly the smoking, drinking and eating materials dropped by people, but also includes dog fouling that is not cleared up by irresponsible owners.

And detritus is defined as dust, soil, grit, and leaves, blossom and grass cuttings that have started to decompose.

Across North Lincolnshire 36 per cent of the roads were also dirty with detritus, but the authority ranked below Bradford as only 14 per cent of its roads had unacceptable levels of litter.

Of the 20 local authorities in the region Calderdale ranked ninth worst, Wakefield came in at 11, Leeds in 12th place, and Kirklees 14th. Across England, 12 per cent of land and highways assessed contained too much dirt or other deposits while five per cent had unacceptable levels of litter.

Bradford ranked seventh worst in the country, with Merton in south west London contained the most dirty streets (49 per cent), while Kensington and Chelsea, also in London, were the cleanest, with none unacceptably filthy. Tim Roach, GMB regional secretary for Yorkshire and Humberside, said: “There is an alarmingly high and dangerous level of dirty streets and pavements in far too many places.

“On average the 12 per cent of streets that are officially classified as unacceptable is bad enough but there are nine councils in this region that have a higher proportion than that which is totally unacceptable.

“Local communities deserve clean and healthy environments. GMB knows that clean streets are perfectly feasible everywhere, its just a matter of ensuring there are enough properly trained and equipped street cleaners employed to do the job.

“Councillors should be clear that for street cleaning, as for other public services, you get what you pay for.

“The next thing that failed politicians may come out with is that people, as well as paying their council tax, should clean the streets themselves.”