VISITORS making their way to York's National Railway Museum are having to run the gauntlet through a pedestrian tunnel covered in green slime, graffiti and pigeon droppings.

But now councillors who have been campaigning for a clean-up of Marble Arch, in Leeman Road, say that officers have finally pledged to take action to improve its condition.

Holgate councillor Sonja Crisp and Acomb councillor Tracey Simpson-Laing said they had been pressing for some time for steps to be taken to clean up the tunnel, which also has to be used by residents living in the Leeman Road area.

Coun Crisp said today that the condition of the pedestrian walkway in the road tunnel was "unacceptable and quite possibly a risk to health."

She said: "The mould in the tunnels will inevitably produce spores which could trigger breathing problems for asthmatics.

"While we were inspecting the tunnels yesterday, a large party of schoolchildren came across the pedestrian bridge from the station side and made their way into town along the walkway. It is a shame that for many tourists this is their first impression of our lovely city.

"Many local residents won't now use this route despite it being the most direct. They regard it as unsafe with the lighting improvements that are needed to make it safer, I agree. Network Rail should stop shirking its responsibility and get the whole area cleaned up quickly."

Coun Simpson-Laing said she had been asking for action for about two years now.

"This is the main footway for many pedestrians," she said.

"They will not use the road tunnel due to the noise, smell and pigeon mess.

"While the council has tried to remove the graffiti, it has now stained the tiles as the glaze has been worn away.

"In addition, Network Rail recently undertook some repair work to Platform 4 which has created a nesting area for pigeons in the footway tunnel."

She said green and brown slime was oozing through the walls of the tunnel.

"I suspect Network Rail want to wait until work starts on the York North West site, but this is too far away and is an issue they must get involved in now."