PARDON our saying so, but what a dirty lot WE area.

Let's hope ex-pat Leighite Jim Hindley, who strongly voices his disgust in your Journal this week (See Page 7) at the the amount of rubbish littering our streets, will stir a positive reaction to stop litter-bugs in their disgusting tracks.

In the 30-odd years since he left the area 'progress' has brought a lot more pre-packaged goods -- crisp packets, canned drinks, chip cartons and pizza boxes.

Nor are there many open home fires around to burn-up household waste.

Now, the environment is polluted in other ways, by morons who toss their toffee wrappers in the air, cast their carton over a wall, chuck chip wrappings in the gutter or let their dogs lay a hop-scotch minefield.

Somebody else will clear it away seems to be the prevailing attitude.

Litter-bugs come from all walks of life, all ages, all sizes but it has got to be down to parents and teachers to show youngsters what pockets and rubbish bins are for so future generations will come clean.

Unpalatable as it may be, Mr Hindley has a point. The streets of Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley (and, let's face it, most towns in the UK) ARE a mess -- and there is simply no excuse. As he rightly points out, the very thought of throwing rubbish on the streets in many places abroad wouldn't even enter people's heads.

That's the attitude that SHOULD be adopted by some of the residents of our area too.

Let's please keep Journal-land tidy.