SIR – I am not surprised at the “city’s streets of shame” headlines.

I constantly remark on this while in and around my home town of Bradford.

We once were a proud city and proud to say where we came from. The growing areas of abundant litter is shameful to those of us who respect our city.

I go out on a regular basis with a carrier and pick up cans and discarded takeaway cartons on the path or road as it insults my eyes to see this just casually thrown down.

It’s not a hard thing to find a bin or to take these items home.

Maybe for the government a thought: the long-term unemployed could be brought in to “earn” their benefits. Give them a litter stick and bags and clean up the district.

I often wonder if other people cannot see how badly this litter is becoming. Lack of care about it saddens those of us who would like to live in a tidier cleaner area.

C Moorhouse, Blackshaw Drive, Bradford