A CAMPAIGN to clean up an area dubbed "the forgotten end of Northallerton" has been greeted with overwhelming public support, according to organisers.

Residents and traders at the North End of the town have formed a pressure group to demand action is taken in the area, which they claim is blighted by derelict buildings, undeveloped wasteland, litter and blocked drains.

Hundreds of people have already put their names to petitions handed out by the North End Action Group, and its founders say they will take their campaign to the top.

Paul Johnson, who runs The Standard pub with his wife, Sheila, said the area would create a bad impression of Northallerton for visitors arriving from the north.

He hit out over the boarded-up houses next to his pub and the site once earmarked for a Safeway superstore.

"They're absolutely disgusting. People tell me when they come in that unless I put the outside lights on during the day they would think we were derelict," he said. "People say they won't even park their cars here, because they see derelict houses and immediately think of vandalism."

The street suffered infestations of flies during the summer and also had pigeons nesting in some of the buildings.

Mr Johnson called on council chiefs to take notice of support for the campaign and said organisers would take their case to MP William Hague if nothing was done.

"We pay our business rates like anyone else and we are not going to accept promises - we want action," he said.

Ian Watkins, who lives near The Standard, said a public meeting with council officials was needed to discuss issues like flooding, blocked drains, unswept streets and lack of litter bins.

"This end of the town has been the forgotten end for far too long," he said.

Steve Quartermain, director of planning and environmental services at Hambleton District Council, said it had received a letter from the action group, and was keen to open talks