Sir - Your OxClean campaign is commendable but let us not forget that it is the local authorities that have the responsiblity, under Section 89 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and its associated Code of Practice, to keep our streets and countryside clean and tidy.

Five years ago, following representations from Mrs Celia Horton, Colin Dexter and many of your readers, including myself, you mounted a campaign to get the county and district councils to clear the A34 and the Oxford Ring Road of rubbish. At the time, it was claimed that nothing could be done because of the safety implications following the accidental death of a litter clearing operative in Buckinghamshire.

It took nearly a year for action to be taken and, here we are, four years later, back to square one in no mean fashion.

The current state of the A34 and Oxford Ring Road (the latter especially at Heyford Hill) is an utter disgrace.

It indicates that there is no plan in being for the regular cleaning of these areas and I would like to call on those responsible and those, such as our Members of Parliament, the Lord Lieutenant, the Lord Mayor of Oxford and the chief executives of the local authorities, who should be keeping an eye on the situation, to apply some pressure on the authorities to act again.

The majority of Oxfordshire residents pay local taxes and are entitled to enjoy clean and environmentally pleasing surroundings as, of course, are our visitors.

Bryan Morgan Abingdon