WE should be relieved York is not Britain's cleanest city. That would suggest that Britain's other urban centres were dirtier still.

Even as York was shortlisted for the award, the group formerly known as Keep Britain Tidy was reporting a significant deterioration in street cleanliness. In our letters column, both tourists and residents regularly complain about litter in York.

It is all too easy to lay the blame entirely at the unswept doorstep of the council. The truth is, we all have a responsibility to dispose of rubbish properly, and to encourage others to do likewise. Only then would York stand a chance of being considered Britain's cleanest city.

Updated: 11:32 Tuesday, March 04, 2003