THE other weekend, we came to Blackburn for a shopping trip. As I travelled along the so-called orbital route from Audley to Eanam, I noticed a lot of litter, grime and dirt that seemed to be never swept for a number of months.

As we went to the town centre I also noticed there was only one manual road sweeper in the entire town centre on a busy Saturday afternoon.

Is Blackburn behind other towns and cities where modern mechanical sweepers are used in town centre across England?

If Blackburn is serious about city status then the town's image must be put right with nice, clean roads with nice trees and flowers planted along the main route to the town centre as a welcoming sign for the visitors.

M DANNY (Mr), Wilson Street, Kirklees, West Yorkshire.