Pictures of some of Daventry’s filthiest areas have been sent in by readers to the Daventry Express, following an article last week which revealed the town has the dirtiest streets in the region.

A couple who live in Swanndale, who asked not to be named, said: “The rubbish in Swanndale, near to the underpass, has been there for years. It’s gradually getting worse.”

A town resident, who also asked not to be named, complained about The Hollow, which has gangs of youths hanging around, drinking, causing a nuisance and leaving their litter behind.

He said: “It’s supposed to be a park for kids to play in.

“I can’t sit in my garden for fear of being hit on the head with a vodka bottle.”

Other areas in the town, featured on pictures, were branded ‘disgusting’ by annoyed residents fed-up with the rubbish.

Fiona Anderson of School Hill, Newnham, said: “Particular areas which suffer badly from litter louts are field gateways and parking bays within a mile of Daventry.

“Broken glass and plastic are not only very unsightly in the countryside as well as in towns, but are a great danger to livestock and wildlife.”

Councillor Chris Over, economic and regeneration portfolio holder at Daventry District Council, is now urging the town to pull together to make the area a nice place to live.

He said: “It gives me little satisfaction in saying there is truth in the critical comments.

“This is a fundamental British issue and Daventry is not clean and tidy.

“We are in a critical period trying to attract inward investment. This does nothing for the image of the town.”

Daventry was placed at the bottom of the league for the area with the cleanest streets in the East Midlands after 24.2 per cent of the streets were assessed as dirty.

The figures covered the 12 month period up to March 31, 2007 and towns were assessed on the amount of litter and waste, including dust, mud and glass fragments, found on public land and highways.

Although Daventry District Council said it had seen a marked improvement over the past 12 months, it would be reviewing its street cleaning methods in order to improve the service.

Cllr Over said: “The local authority needs to review the street cleaning in Daventry and the district and I believe that is taking place.

“This will reassure the public we mean business.

“We all need to work on improving the image of Daventry – none of us want to live in an untidy town. We really want Daventry to be highly thought of and a place to be proud of.”