LITTER-BUSTER David Dowse has launched a one-man crusade to clean up the streets of the town he loves.

Mr Dowse, who has lived in Stroud for 20 years, has created a website to shock and shame mindless litterbugs who blight the Five Valleys with crisp packets, lager cans, cigarette butts and takeaway cartons.

"We live in a beautiful place so why are we turning it into a dustbin?" said the 50-year-old former public relations professional.

"Everywhere I go in Stroud the problem is getting worse - it's time to do something about it."

The website features photographs of litter hotspots.

Mr Dowse, a father-of-three from Downfield, Stroud, hopes it will inspire residents to take action.

And he is not the only one angered by the state of our streets.

At Thursday's budget meeting, district council leader Chas Fellows spoke of the shame he felt walking around Stroud's 'dirty' centre.

He has now pledged £10,000 to tidy up town centres across the district over the next two years.

Commenting on a recent inspection of Stroud He said: "It was extremely dirty and I was ashamed of what I saw.

"Some of the gullies were so full they weren't able to clear away rainwater."

The SNJ did not have to look far to find examples.

Visitors to Stroud's new bowling centre and cinema have to walk passed a drainage channel clogged with junk.

At the other end of town in Chapel Street lies a grotty sofa surrounded by old beer cans and wrappers.

One nearby resident, a 51-year-old single mother, said: "We need more pride in our surroundings."

Mr Dowse's crackdown comes just weeks after Prime Minister Tony Blair launched his Respect campaign to restore pride in our communities.

"I agree, we need a zero tolerance attitude to offenders," said Mr Dowse.

"We also need more education at every level - from home to schools - to teach children that dropping litter is not clever."

Stroud police have reminded litter-louts that they face £50 on-the-spot fines if caught.

Sergeant Garrett Gloyn had this warning.

"If we know or suspect people have committed an offence they can expect a knock at their door," he said.

Meanwhile, Stroud's town centre manager Vicky Hancock said discarded chewing gum was also a problem and made the area look unsightly.

"Perhaps the companies which make it and shops which sell it could be taxed to help the problem," she said.

She also reminded smokers they now face a £50 fine for dropping cigarette ends.