REDUCING the number of litter bins on the Malvern Hills is part of a new strategy to overcome the litter problem.

Providing more litter bins is not the answer, according to Ian Rowat, director of Malvern Hills Conservators.

"I think we have to have bins at British Camp, St Ann's Well and other popular spots, but I don't want to have them all over the countryside and I have taken one or two down," he said.

"People living in the area know the bins are there and when we analyse what is in them, we find that one lady fills her local bin with cat litter and others fill them by cleaning their cars out."

Mr Rowat said National Trust policy was to encourage people to take their litter home, which he believed was a much healthier attitude, although he was reluctant to put "please take your litter home" notices on the hills and commons.

He said litter seemed to be a particular problem on the Malvern Hills compared with other beauty spots and it was both costly and labour intensive to clear it up.

"Obviously there are standards to keep up, but there is a litter problem in the Berrow Down car park, for instance. If people are in a car, why can't they take their litter home?" asked mr Rowat.

"Our men spend every Monday morning picking up litter and emptying the bins and there are a lot of unpaid litter-pickers who clear it up voluntarily when they are out walking."

New to the hills are dog litter bins, costing more than £300 each, which have been installed at two popular dog walking sites, North Quarry and British Camp.

"The one at North Quarry is being well used but at British Camp it doesn't seem to have the same effect.

"We are still getting dog mess all around the area," said Mr Rowat.