Silsden dog walkers who spend their Sunday mornings picking up litter from the town's park have called for something to be done about the problem.

Resident Mandy Greenwood has written to the town council highlighting the problem of litter being left in the playing area over the weekend. Her letter was supported by another resident, who wished to remain anonymous.

Mayor Alan Edwards read out the letters to members at a meeting last Thursday night.

He said: "They are picking up three to four carrier bags of litter every Sunday morning. Every weekend there is a group of dog walkers picking up litter for well over an hour. It included many sweets and crisp bags, alcohol and soft drink cans and boxes from multi-packs of beer."

Mrs Greenwood wrote that there was also a lot of broken glass in the grass around the playing area and on the footpaths.

She has asked the council to review the amount of litter bins in the park so that those who cleaned up had somewhere to deposit the rubbish. She also requested members to pursue those responsible for vandalism and litter.

"I consider the park to be one of the gems of Silsden," she wrote.

Coun Keith Savage agreed with the sentiments expressed in the letter.

"Every month we come to this council meeting, and every meeting we take it up with the police. We need some plain clothed police around the park to round up some of these louts and vandals," he suggested.

Coun Paul Bromley said that the town council was aware of the problem and was working with the residents and the police to do something about it.

He suggested that the local clergy should address it in their sermons, but Coun Savage quipped that it was unlikely the perpetrators were churchgoers!

"This is not the majority of youths in Silsden," he added. "This is a small minority."

The town council added its support to the letters, which will now be passed on to the relevant authorities.