HOW far would you go to help Worcester clean up its act?

When the Evening News put this to shoppers in Worcester city centre, most welcomed Councillor Prodger's plans to clean up the city - but said youngsters should do more to clean up behind them.

Market worker Linda Squires from Newport Street, regularly picks up litter in the market place.

She praised council workers for doing a fantastic job cleaning up the city, but pointed out that youngsters were the worse offenders.

The bins are there and they just don't use them," she said.

Vehicle mechanic Bob Bayliss, aged 59 from Severn Way, Bewdley, argued fines were the future.

He said they would act as a deterrent and prevent people from dropping litter.

"The problem of litter is disgusting," he said.

Mr Bayliss applauded the idea of a Keep Worcester Tidy Week, but expressed concerns that those involved would not be the culprits.

Shop manager Mark Kavanagh, 37 from Cecil Road, Wyld's Lane thought people drop litter because they are lazy.

Mr Kavanagh would be prepared to pick up litter in his local area or by his workplace, but not in the city centre.

Student Kathyrn Ratcliff, 18, from Windermere Drive, Warndon, thought council workers did a great job keeping the city centre clean and litter-free.

Miss Ratcliff shared the opinion that the main culprits were youngsters.

"It's an act of carelessness, especially when there is a bin nearby," she said.

Pensioner Peter Parker, 72, from Constance Road, Claines, said he found chewing gum an annoying problem.

"It's shocking that people throw it on the floor," he said.

Mr Parker regularly picks up litter in his local area but would not do so in the city centre because he felt he felt he would be fighting a losing battle.

"Where I can make a contribution I will pick it up, but in town you've already lost," he said.

Student Dan Ashley, 19 from Bromsgrove thought that if everyone helped to clean up litter, the council would have less work to do.

"The worst culprits are my generation, it's a disgrace," he said.

"It annoys me when people drop litter next to bins."

Mr Ashley applauded Coun Prodger's idea and believed if just a few people were prepared to help, others would be encouraged to do the same.

What do you think? Letters Page, Evening News, Hylton Road, Worcester, WR2 5JX.