TOWN centre traders have given their backing to a £1million war on grime, claiming it can only be good for business.

On Wednesday, Blackburn with Darwen Council unveiled its Thrash the Trash campaign, which aims to overcome criticism that the council has let the state of the borough slip over the past few years.

A host of initiatives, ranging from the appointment of town centre caretakers to increased back street cleaning are planned by Blackburn with Darwen Council as part of the campaign.

The council has added the extra £1million to its £6.2million cleansing budget in a bid to clean up the area.

It wants the public to get involved by naming grot spots and in return they could win prizes in a monthly draw.

The promise of additional enforcement action for people caught fly-tipping, writing graffiti or dropping litter, is also part of the campaign.

But the work in the town centre appeals most to traders. As well as more regular cleaning, graffiti will be removed more quickly and a way will be found to tackle chewing gum.

Phil Ainsworth of the Darwen Street traders' association said today: "We've seen a lot of improvements in recent months in terms of regeneration with the work on Darwen Street and right across the town centre.

"Rubbish across the town centre is a problem which can put people off. A cleaner town centre is in all our interests."

Town centre caretakers will ensure damage is repaired quickly, flowerbeds are tended to and rubbish removed. Town centre rangers will issue fines to people littering.

Jeff Stone, a co-owner of the recently renovated Exchange Arcade in Fleming Square, also being regenerated at present, said: "The town centre is coming on well. It needs to be kept clean because people will remember the state the town is in when they visited."