BOLTON'S dirtiest streets are getting even dirtier ... a shock survey has revealed.

As a result, council chiefs are now stepping up their street sweeping programme in the worst areas.

Main roads will also now be cleaned weekly instead of monthly.

They are also going to examine whether the town's litter bins have been put in the best places.

The study of cleanliness in the town was undertaken by Bolton Council's environmental chiefs.

They found that standards has declined in areas of town which had already been targeted as litter blackspots over the last 12 months.

The worst areas were named as Daubhill, Deane, Farnworth, Halliwell and Kearsley.

But areas where standards were already high have improved since last year.

They were named in a report which went to Bolton's planning and environment committee as Astley Bridge, Horwich, Little Lever, Lostock, Turton and Westhoughton.

Council chiefs found that cigarette butts accounted for a high proportion of the litter, followed by cans and confectionary packaging.

Dog fouling is also still a major problem although there has been an improvement in some areas such as car parks, parks, leisure centres, and bus stations.

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