A NEIGHBOURHOOD Watch co-ordinator has criticised the state of a Newton Aycliffe underpass which is regularly used by children.

Dorothy Bowman, secretary of the newly-formed Dales Residents' Association, says the underpass at the top of Silverdale Place is filthy and regularly gets flooded.

Last weekend a car was abandoned in the pedestrian walkway, which runs under Burnhill Way.

Mrs Bowman said children at nearby St Francis' Primary School use the underpass twice a day. It is also a favoured route for pensioners walking to Horndale Post Office.

Mrs Bowman added: "When it's raining, the kids who use it to go to school in the morning get soaking wet."

A Sedgefield Borough Council spokesman said: "All of these underpasses are cleaned twice a week. We appreciate there are problems as they are gathering places for youths at night, however they are cleaned regularly.

"As regards any graffiti, this is passed on for the probation service to deal with its removal."