I RECENTLY returned from travelling in Russia, China, Australia and America, visiting large and small places including many downtown areas and nowhere have I seen streets as dirty as Johnston Street in Blackburn.

It is absolutely disgusting. Walking from Henrietta Street to the Addison Street Post Office (two short blocks -- you have to plough your way through masses of litter, pick your way through chewing gum, vomit, excreta and overflowing rubbish bins.

The bins themselves are filthy. This goes for all the bins in the town. When were they last washed, why aren't they an adequate size for the job, why don't they have bags in them?

A cursory sweeping once a week is of little use, particularly as it takes place on Thursday, which is of little value when all the revellers turn out on Friday and Saturday evenings.

What about a water blaster to clean up the chewing gum which threatens to cover the whole town. Apart from the appearance, this is a health hazard, with tuberculosis increasing.

Blackburn was disappointed not to be made a city, but surely a greater maturity is required than just tarting up a bit of the town centre.

FRANCES BAIN, Henrietta Street, Blackburn.