A RESIDENT who is becoming increasingly infuriated by the amount of rubbish littering the streets of Dursley claims young people and schoolchildren are the biggest offenders.

Donald and Susan Hollins moved to Downham View from East Kent around nine months ago after being drawn to the area during twice-yearly holidays to Stouts Hill. Mr Hollins said that since he has moved to the town he has noticed the amounts of litter increasing.

"I have not ceased to be amazed at the amount of litter that continues to spoil the streets and footpaths of the town," he said.

"I am now quite certain that the majority of litter is deposited by young people and schoolchildren."

He added that no footpaths are cleaned until a request is made to Stroud District Council.

"And then it is a one-off cleaning so quite soon the amount of litter is the same as before."

Mr Hollins said the solution is for schools and parents to come together and campaign against litter dropping.

He added: "I am always collecting littler but it is not getting to the route of the problem."

Stroud District Council's technical contracts officer, Lisa Samak, said footpaths through housing estates are only cleaned on a reactive basis.

"We have a street-cleaning contract zone according to vehicle and pedestrian traffic," she explained. "Littering is a major problem and we have written a frequency regime according to degrees of dirtiness that will hopefully help to combat the problem."