R U A Scutter ? If so, then please keep the hell away from where I live, stay in your own dingy streets where you can live like pigs / animals / chavs etc. I love where I live, Ilkley and the surrounding areas are naturally beautiful, you only have to walk out from town for a few minutes to find yourself in the farmland countryside of the lower Dales. The fields are thronged with new life, tiny lambs tottering about or peering inquisitively through fences, their little tails jigging as they suckle. In the hedgerows and woods wild flowers are blooming, the first bluebells are alread showing and shortly they will all be awash with colour. Birds are nestbuilding and preparing to raise young, gathering straw from barns and wool caught up on barbed wire. It's all beautiful, and I love it. None of this is in any way improved by the litter throwing scumbags that drive around the country lanes. I'm not just having a rant about this, because just talking doesn't achieve a right lot. Periodically, when I go walking, I take a few binbags with me, fill them with litter as I go and the leave them by the roadside where I can pick them up later in the day. I havn't advertised this before as it's just something I do, I don't want heaps of praise either, however, if you think it's a good idea - why don't you have a go ? You could pick any stretch of road, around Ilkley there are lots of areas that could use some volunteer litter pickers. I have seen in the USA that roads are 'adopted' by various youth and community organisations, I presume these groups run litter picking days to keep the roads tidy, that's a great idea, perhaps if you're a member of a sports club or community group you could organise something like this. A couple of car drivers stopped for a chat today as I went tidying, and both of them suggested other roads where I could come and do some work, but you're entirely missing the point people, don't find me more rubbish to pick up, get out and pick up some rubbish yourself. Litter really annoys me, even in the more remote parts of Yorkshire / The Lakes etc., where access is by a few hours stiff walking, you still find litter. This defies all common sense, you walk for hours to see the most beautiful countryside, then after your packed lunch you stuff your empty coke bottle and crisp packets into a hedge. Smokers are about the worst offenders when it comes to chucking litter from a moving vehicle, I've picked up dozens and dozens of damp fag packets today. Mobile drinkers are probably next on the list, empty booze cans and bottles are a large part of roadside litter, and no matter how far you are from the dreaded golden arches though, and it's a fair drive to nearest McDonalds, McLitter gets everywhere. I don't suppose I have the sort of readers that chuck litter, but I know I have the sort of readers who are concerned for our countryside (and for city dwellers, street litter in towns is no more pleasant), might you consider taking a binbag or carrier bag next time you go for a stroll and doing a bit to keep the place looking spick and span ? Ta, Yorkshiresoul.