REGARDING your recent articles about the filthy state of our streets and back alleys, I think we live in a thoughtless and disrespectful society.

One has only to look at the litter, dog dirt and disused household goods dumped in and around the town to see that people just don't care.

Do people not realise that there is a general increase in the rat population and other vermin, thanks to them being fed with food waste.

Don't parents teach their children to take their litter home?

Having a dog means keeping it and the environment clean.

Disused household goods should be at 'your' back door, not in the street or around the corner.

There is absolutely no excuse for all this rubbish. There are methods to deal with it and it doesn't cost lots of money -- just use a litter bin or, if it's full, take your rubbish home.

Remember to tidy up your refuse until collection day, pick up your dog's mess and, finally, telephone the council to remove your unwanted household goods.

If Blackburn is to make progress, we need positive action. Citizens need to become "responsible and respectful" for their community -- it belongs to you and we all have to live in it.

M THOMPSON (Mrs), Thorn Hill Close, Chester Park, Blackburn.