WORCESTER'S streets are cleaner than the national average, according to Government inspectors.

But the authority ought to recycle more, a report claims.

The Best Value Inspection Service studied the city council's refuse collection service, street cleaning, recycling and public toilets.

Worcester has about 150 miles of roads. The inspectors said 57 per cent of streets were "in a high state of cleanliness", compared to a national figure of 46 per cent.

Every street was at least "acceptably clean", whereas the national average is 91 per cent.

Waste collection was relatively cheap in Worcester, the inspectors found.

The city council was able to take away a household's rubbish for £21.34 each year - making it one of the cheapest councils, in that respect, in England.

And 87 per cent of people surveyed last October were "very or fairly satisfied" with the standard of refuse collection.

"However, public toilets aren't popular with people and the council's performance on recycling isn't good," said Paul Kirby, the Best Value Inspector Service's regional director.

"Worcester recycled 0.05 tonnes of waste per household, compared with the national figure of 0.08 tonnes.

"The city council needs to improve the percentage of waste which is recycled and reduce the number of missed bins, as well as develop an effective waste management strategy with Worcestershire County Council."

Overall, the service rated the services as "fair" and expected things to improve.

"We intend to use a washer to clean the High Street in future and also concentrate on removing gum," said Robert Moreland, Worcester City Council's head of policy and review.

"Later this year we'll introduce black bags for householders to leave outside their homes, so less rubbish will be missed.

"And our refuse collectors will work longer hours over a four-day week, so we don't get delays after a Bank Holiday Monday."

Mr Moreland said the council's long-term aim was to introduce toilet attendants, as part of a toilet improvement programme. "This would be tied into redevelopment schemes, such as the one proposed for Lowesmoor," he said.