I HAVE just returned from a few days in Bruges in Belgium. What a beautiful city!

There was no litter, no graffiti, no dog dirt, no chewing gum stuck all over the pavements, no vandalism, no gangs of youths gathering on corners, no tarmac covering old cobbled streets.

Their historic buildings were still in place, not demolished to make way for so-call modern improvements and their national flag flew proudly from many buildings.

What a difference from our town -- litter all over, graffiti, pavements covered in dog dirt and chewing gum, our characteristic cobbles tarmaced to "improve" them, our old buildings pulled down needlessly, and how many flags of St George can be seen flying?

Gangs of youths stand on street corners looking for the next thing to vandalise.

I wonder how many tourists would call Blackburn beautiful. If tourism is to be encouraged, how about cleaning the town up first? And I don't just mean the town centre.

SUSAN INGHAM, Blackburn.