VOLUNTEERS in a North Yorkshire town are being urged to come forward to help tidy up the streets.

Norton town councillor David Lloyd-Williams said he was so angry that footpaths in Malton and Norton were becoming such an eyesore that he would be mounting a big clean-up campaign on Sunday.

Despite several pleas for footpaths to be cleaned and rubbish removed, little has been done, said Coun Lloyd-Williams, who is also a member of North Yorkshire County Council.

He is asking volunteers equally upset at the state of footpath edges and in the growing number of eyesores, to join him at 10am at Norton Library car park.

Coun Lloyd-Williams said he wanted to encourage people to come along to the clean-up session armed with trowels, brushes and rubbish bags.

Staff at Ryedale District Council admitted they were overstretched and unable to ensure the whole district was kept neat and tidy.

Assistant chief executive John Davison explained: "It's impractical to pick every bit of litter and rubbish up over a district of more than 500 square miles.

"We do our best to try and provide a high level of service within the budget restraints.

"We work seven days a week every day of the year, including Christmas Day and New Year's Day."

An independent study carried out last year by Encams - formerly the Tidy Britain group - revealed that Ryedale had higher levels of cleanliness than many other districts, said Mr Davison.

But anything to improve the environment for residents was to be applauded, he said.

"I am delighted to hear there is going to be an organised clean-up.

"We would say thank you very much to that.

"It's all of our environment - it should be a team effort."

Mr Davison said district council staff were responsible for cleaning the footpaths, whereas the county council highways department looked after the spraying of overgrown vegetation.

"I know they are under the same difficult budget pressures as we are," he said.

Updated: 12:33 Friday, August 01, 2003