LIKE me Hindsford's John Nutter is sick to death of litter louts.

In despair he penned a poem and sent it of to the town's Cleaner Greener group calling for punishments for all rubbish droppers and for children to be taught the error of their scruffy ways.

He was stunned when he received "A Rubbish Reply" in the same vein from the Atherton Township Forum.

It read:

Thank you for your Dear John letter,

We hope that we can help you feel better,

About our plans and our campaign

Working together we all can gain.

We have to make others tow the line,

And to help there is a £50 fine,

For dropping litter in our street

And leaving a mess under our feet.

We have spoken to 'kids' about your views.

The perpetrators we should realise are the few

Kids know to drop litter is quite wrong

But how often do their parents sing this song.

We think the answer is very plain

The message to all should be the same

Don't drop litter in Atherton town

It will only make the people frown

We also took time to look around

And feel our message is fairly sound

In Atherton litter is getting better

And this Dear John is the end of the letter.