Businesses ordered to clean up their act in a litter blackspot today claimed Bradford Council should help sort out the mess.

Traders in the Duckworth Lane area of the city, who have been targeted by the authority in a litter crackdown, said they paid their Council Tax and expected more support.

People asked to identify the district's top litter eyesores listed Duckworth Lane, Oak Lane, Whetley Hill, Toller Lane, and White Abbey Road as among the worst offenders.

The Council's cleansing team will now issue letters to businesses, warning them to clean up their act or end up in court facing a fine.

The owners will receive notices under the Environmental Protection Act telling them they have a responsibility to clean up outside their premises and can be prosecuted if they fail.

But Mohammed Qayyum, owner of Capital News news agency, said: "I pay £1,500 business rates and clean up when I have time. I pay a lot of Council Tax and think it's up to them to do more."

Abdul Ghafoor, owner of Fahim and Brothers Food Store, said: "The Council is doing a job - but not as much as it is supposed to. Rates go up every year and we are paying for a service."

He said litter had become an increasing problem ever since he took over the shop in 1989 and it was mainly from fast food outlets.

"I clean up my own front every day, but it mounts up all the time."

Urfan Saeed, support manager of The Pizza Hut, said they regularly cleaned the streets but there were too few litter bins.

But Zahir Iqbal, of Kentucky Fried Chicken, welcomed the move. He said they cleaned up four times a day but there was litter from other businesses that spoiled the street. Mohammed Rafiq, of Malala Food Stores, also said he cleaned every day but there was a sea of litter from other properties. But he, too, said he paid for a service from the Council which should be provided.

But Kishore Patel, assistant manager of Bradford West Area Cleaning Department, said cleaning crews spent four hours a day cleaning the area.

"As soon as we clear it, it is the same again. We are making the businesses aware that they need to keep their own areas tidy. It improves the streets and makes it more attractive for people to visit."

The Council's executive member for the environment, Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, said the culture of shopkeepers cleaning up outside their premises has changed.

"In the past, you would have businesses scrubbing the pavements."

She said the companies being targeted included those with the capacity to create rubbish like takeaways, shops selling lottery tickets, or banks which issue receipts.

The businesses will get 21 days to clean up and the Council has the option of serving a notice and subsequently prosecute if the work is not done.

The businesses face a maximum fine of £2,500.