STREET cleaning in Otley could be taken over by the town council.

In a bid to clean up the town's act, councillors are to meet with officers from the city council's cleansing department later this month.

And they will be looking into the possibility of taking on some of Leeds City Council's responsibilities.

It comes after long standing Otley resident Pat Lofthouse complained about the state of the town in a letter to the Wharfedale Observer.

Mrs Lofthouse, of Forest Gate, said that she loved walking into the town to do her shopping but had been put off by the amount of rubbish filling the streets.

"I walk through the same rubbish, rotten paper, bottles, tins and dog faeces week after week," she said.

Mrs Lofthouse, who has lived in the town for 53 years, added she loved shops in the town but felt it would be cleaner to drive to supermarkets.

"The streets used to be cleaned and we pay over £1,000 council tax but now they never seem to get done."

Now, the town council is asking people to let it know where problem areas are in the town and how they could be helped.

Councillor Lawrence Ross, chairman of the council's environmental and economic development committee, said the council would be looking into taking on street cleaning.

"We would like to hear from members of the public about their problems with litter," he said.

l Anyone with any litter problems should contact Les Cross, town clerk, Otley Civic Centre, Cross Green.