From bloom to gloom as rats end town's contest hopes

Viv Parry said rubbish on the streets was attracting rats

A "dingy" town has withdrawn from this year's Heart of England in Bloom awards because of litter in the streets.

Ludlow regularly wins a gold award in the contest, part of the Britain in Bloom programme, but 2024 is set to be a barren year.

Viv Parry, who represents Ludlow on Shropshire Council, said the rubbish was attracting rats and complained town centre bins were not being emptied often enough, adding there was a lack of street cleaning.

The local authority said the town centre was swept on a regular basis and bins were emptied daily.

The Liberal Democrat councillor said it was only the second time in 25 years she had not entered the town in the competition.

Ms Parry described Ludlow as "a little bit dingy" and said an American visitor, taken aback by the detritus, had told a friend of hers "this was supposed to be the most beautiful town in England".

Adding to the nonplussed transatlantic assessment, the councillor added: "I've really never seen rubbish like it - we've got rats running all over this food waste in Castle Street car park.

"The smaller bins are being emptied, but not at weekends. [It's] piled high with rubbish in the square."

Ms Parry complained that bins in the town were overflowing

Shropshire Council said rumours that Ludlow's allocation of street cleaners was being withdrawn were completely untrue.