A RESIDENT is urging other villagers to help her set up a task force to deal with the mountain of rubbish lying around Barnton.

Vanessa Vickers also appealed to the parish council at its latest meeting for help to sort out the problem of litter and broken glass.

Vanessa, of Mond Street, said: "I regularly walk around the village and there is a lot of litter and broken glass lying around.

"I know the council cleans up regularly but it doesn't seem sufficient for the amountof rubbish that is being dropped. The problem is especially bad outside shops and takeaway restaurants.

"Is there anything that can be done?"

Parish clerk Roy Garton said that until two years ago the borough council's street cleansing team visited with just a cleaning lorry to collect litter, which was unsatisfactory.

Since then a lengthsman had been appointed but he only worked in the village for three days a week.

He said: "This is not enough time to cover the whole village.

"I have to rely on villagers reporting any problem areas but I am aware that litter does build up in certain places."

Vanessa said the problem was especially bad from the Co-op to Emmett Street, also on Nursery Road and Jubilee Corner.

Parish chairman Clr Maurice Ferguson said: "The parish council is very aware of the problem and has been trying to address it."

The meeting decided to advertise the problem in its newsletter in the hope other residents will join forces with Vanessa to develop a group to tackle the situation.