AT the council meeting on Thursday, I requested the executive member for regeneration to reinstate the 10 litter pickers who were dismissed a few months ago.

I stated that the back streets of Blackburn were not being kept clean and that they were filthy beyond belief.

It was then that Coun Paul Browne called residents a bunch of dirty s*ds. I thought Coun Browne was totally out of order saying this.

I, as councillor for Shadsworth and Whitebirk, organise every month a clean-up of the estate with over 40 young people going out and collecting each month on a Saturday morning over 40 bin bags full of litter, and then enjoying breakfast in the community centre.

This I have also started on the Whitebirk area on Saturday when 10 young boys and girls filled bin bags with litter.

All of these young people deserve thanks for their efforts. Bit by bit, these two estates in my ward are getting cleaner and cleaner, but it does need the backing of the council to maintain the cleaning.

Coun RON O’KEEFEE, Shadsworth and Whitebirk Ward.