BAFFLED residents of Rye-dale yesterday hit back at claims that the district was a clean place to live.

A study of 106 sites carried out by environmental surveyors Encams concluded that the area had levels of cleanliness well above the national average.

The survey was welcomed by members of Ryedale District Council, who also said they would endeavour to improve areas which came in for criticism in the report.

But the Mayor of Norton, near Malton, Councillor Keith Mennell, said the district council should not be patting itself on the back just yet.

"The cleanliness of Ryedale is not up to the standard I would like to see," he said.

"I went down Commercial Street recently and found there was a great deal of rubbish.

"One particular problem is the number of cigarette butts in the gutters. It's absolutely disgusting.

"The reason they are there is that the council uses sweeper vans which can't get to the gutters because of all the parked cars.

"But if they employed a man with a brush it wouldn't be a problem."