NO one likes litter. Many of us grumble about the state of our streets, and contrast the mess with spotless European cities.

If we see someone tossing a wrapper aside, we may tut and mutter, but only under our breath.

We are expert complainers, but when it comes to doing something about it we are, not to put too fine a point on it, rubbish.

That is why Carol Partington is such a fine example. She does not like litter either. But she is taking a stand against it.

Armed with her own litter-picking device, she has embarked on a campaign to keep Nether Poppleton tidy. And she is inviting us all to join her clean-up crusade.

Some will say, "I do not drop litter, it is not my problem". But it is everyone's problem. If we fail to challenge a wrapper dropper, or ignore a crisp packet skimming down our street, we become litter appeasers.

Our bin bags contain evidence of Britain at its worst. The vodka bottles, the junk food containers and the needles represent binge drinking, obesity and drugs respectively.

If we could clean up society, the truism goes, we would clean up our towns and villages. But what about turning that argument around?

There is evidence that a zero tolerance attitude to litter, and the community spirit that engenders, helps to reduce crime and disorder. That is the principle underlying the city council's York Pride initiative.

Already Carol Partington's efforts have made her village a nicer place to live, which proves that one person can make a difference. So imagine the impact if hundreds or thousands of Yorkshire citizens joined Carol's anti-litter crusade.

Our city, towns and villages could soon be gleaming like those European capitals we so admire.

Updated: 10:22 Thursday, October 23, 2003