Skipton should not call itself a tourist town if it cannot be kept clean and tidy claims a local resident.

Tony Mills said he was horrified to hear a couple visiting the area complaining about the amount of rubbish on The Bailey.

This prompted him to take a closer look at the area and he discovered rubbish lying on The Bailey for months and not being removed.

He said the litter got stuck behind benches and was never cleared up by road sweepers.

On closer inspection, Mr Mills found a sign put up by contractors working for BT saying they would begin work in the area on Monday November 15 and warned motorists there would be disruption for several weeks.

He said the last Monday November 15 was in 1998.

Mr Mills added that old signs and fly posters littered the whole of Skipton and he wanted to know who was responsible for ensuring they were taken down.

Back on The Bailey, Mr Mills said the same person should be responsible for making sure metal posts which no longer held rubbish bins were removed, fences and railings were painted, the broken benches were repaired and street lights were in good working order.

He added that no-one had thought to put a sign near the charity car park at Skipton Building Society directing people with pushchairs down the castle side of The Bailey.

He said he often saw people dicing with death as they tried to manoeuvre prams along the narrow footpath into town.

"I think there is no-one walking round and seeing these things. Who is responsible for making sure these things are done? It's a mess, it really is a mess," said Mr Mills.

He added that he took photos of the rubbish on The Bailey and passed on his concerns with picture evidence to County Councillor Mike Doyle. He received a reply saying it would be looked into but since then claimed nothing had been done.

"If they don't do it we don't deserve to call Skipton a tourist town. We don't deserve to have people coming in," said Mr Mills.