IS Thompson Street West the dirtiest street in Darlington?

One man believes the litter strewn across the street makes it the town's filthiest thoroughfare.

Paul Dean got so fed up with stepping past rubbish on the daily school run, he decided to keep a note of what he found.

Yesterday, he had to navigate his way through dog faeces, smashed glass, human spit, crisp packets and chewing gum.

Mr Dean, 38, who lives in nearby Kingsway, has called for people to think before they dump their rubbish in the street.

"I think this must be the filthiest street in Darlington," he said.

"Yesterday, I had to walk through a Chinese meal, dog mess, spit in all kinds of different colours, smashed eggs - which seems to be a bit of a craze at the moment - sticky paving stones because people have sprayed fizzy drinks everywhere, chewing gum, smashed glass, as well as plenty of general litter.

"I have to run the gauntlet through this kind of stuff every day. Why can't people just think before they chuck this stuff all over the street? It's a depressing example of how uncivilised some people are."

Mr Dean walks the street every morning and afternoon to take his son and daughter to and from school in Harrowgate Hill. A few weeks ago, his wife found a hypodermic needle on the route.

He said Darlington Borough Council should fine the litter bugs to teach them a lesson.

"I have to clean the wheels on our buggy every day before I take it back into the house - it is disgusting," he said. "This kind of thing shouldn't happen in a civilised society."

Ward councillors Stephen Jones and Gill Cartwright have agreed to look into the problem.

Councillor Cartwright said: "People should pick up their rubbish after them and make sure they clear up after their dogs.

"We rely on people telling us where the problems are. If they get in touch with us, we will get it sorted."

Councillor Jones said: "I live in that street and walk it every day and I have had no other complaints about litter. I would say it's no worse than any other street in the area."

A council spokeswoman said: "We clean every street in Darlington at least once a week. Wardens regularly patrol and hand out on-the-spot fines.

"Street Scene does all it can to encourage people to take pride in their community and not to drop litter."