DARRENERS have been urged to ‘Tidy The Tower’ after the town’s MP launched a campaign to clean up the landmark.

Mr Berry said the iconic structure, unveiled in 1897 as part of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, should be better looked after.

In recent months it has been blighted by graffitti, but Mr Berry said general maintenance work was desperately needed, particularly to the wooden steps near the top where the green paint has worn away.

The tower is owned by Blackburn with Darwen Council, and Mr Berry said if they wouldn’t clean it, he would.

He said: “Darwen Tower is the most iconic landmark of our town and it should be better looked after.

“It is a disgrace that Blackburn with Darwen Council has left it in this state.

“The situation at the tower is like the ‘broken windows theory’, and if we do not get the graffitti cleaned off the dome it will just attract more.

“If the council can’t be bothered to clean it, I’ll go up with a bucket of hot soapy water and a scrubbing brush and sort it out myself.”

Mr Berry encouraged suggestions from residents as to how the site can be better maintained.

He said he was considering a community day of action, where residents would be called upon to head up to the tower and help to clean it.

A Friends of Darwen Tower group was set up two years ago and chairman Stephen Potter said he was hoping to get it properly up and running soon.

He said: “I have been meaning to call a meeting of the group recently but other things have got in the way.

“I would support Mr Berry’s campaign and I intend to speak with him about this soon.

“The tower is what makes Darwen unique and it is vital we restore it to its former glory.”

Sunnyhurst councillor Dave Smith said: “I know someone goes up there from the council to check it every now and then.

“If Mr Berry has a problem with the tower he can ring Tony Watson in the cleansing department at the council and it will be sorted.”