PENDLE is getting cleaner as the anti-litter message hits home.

According to figures released by Pendle Council the borough's streets and open areas are becoming tidier thanks to a blitz on "grot spots."

Under a "cleanliness index" drawn up by the authority, the area scored 78 last year against 71 in 1997 and just 52 three years ago.

Most areas were cleaner, with particular improvements in West Craven, which had the least litter, and Nelson, but standards fell slightly in Brierfield, Reedley, Barrowford and Pendleside.

The litter survey's author, Alex McNair, said: "The 1998 survey shows an improvement in cleanliness and, in the majority of results, the highest scores in the history of Pendle's litter survey.

"This year's survey is 12 months on from the change in the method of street cleansing, whereby the majority of the streets in the borough are swept within 24 hours of the refuse collection."

Other factors making Pendle cleaner included the sending out of more than 8,000 letters in known "grot spots" reminding householders that it is an offence to put rubbish out before collection day. The main areas of concern were Southfield, Whitefield and Bradley wards in Nelson, and Brierfield. Further reminders will be sent to all householders in the borough with their council tax bills.

Environmental services officers also conducted "walk abouts" in problem areas telling residents about the problems of leaving rubbish in the streets before collection day.

The campaign helped make the area's back streets much cleaner with the cleanliness score overall rising from 62 to 70. The biggest clean-up was in residential area.

A total of 330 sites across Pendle were surveyed.

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