STREET cleaners in Boscombe tackled 54 flytipping incidents last month and 28 cases of graffiti.

Bournemouth council’s Clean Team are out seven days a week sweeping litter and collecting flytipped waste, taking down posters and clearing up dog mess and dead animals.

In July alone the team collected excess waste from 31 households, and were called to 21 reports of dog fouling – on average they collect two trucks full of waste every day.

However, Lesley Butler, street cleansing operations manager, said the area was still much better than it used to be.

“Boscombe produces more waste than the rest of the town, it is a deprived area and has a high population density due to all the HMOs,” she said.

“But it has improved a lot over the last couple of years, and we do our best to keep it as clean and tidy as possible.

“Unfortunately there is still a minority of people who only use the bins when the floor is full up, and you only need a few to spoil it for everyone else.

“Sadly we can’t afford to have teams out all the time.”

The team, provided by council contractor Watson CCS, targets hot spot areas in Borthwick Lane, Walpole Walk, The Crescent, Corporation Road, Windham Road, Spring Road and Porchester Place.

They are assisted by the ‘street champion’ who patrols the precinct and the surrounding streets six days a week to keep them free from casual litter, cigarette ends and grime.

Boscombe street champion Aaron Cohen said: “The back roads usually stay clean when they are done but there is always litter in the main shopping area.

“It is a rewarding job because I want to live in a clean place.”

Boscombe residents with excess waste can take advantage of a free collection of up to three bulky domestic items every six months.

To use this service, to report flytipping or excess waste or to get equipment for a community litter pick contact Ask Bournemouth on 01202 451199.