SIR - After many years of hearing and experiencing the increasing problems with the deterioration in the overall cleanliness of the city centre, mainly due to the numbers of gulls and the associated mess they deposit, together with discarded food wrappers from the large numbers of takeaways.

Worcester City Forum for Older People are campaigning for a cleaner city centre which visitors and resident shoppers can enjoy.

Our members have been visiting the city centre to talk to visitors and shopkeepers to ask questions.

Although many feel that Worcester is a lovely city, sadly the condition of the pavements and buildings leaves a a lot to be desired.

Perhaps owners of empty shops should be required to have their shopfronts cleaned and instead of dirty empty properties, window displays of a pleasant and happy nature could be displayed and even generate an income.

We have been told by one shopkeeper who travels into the city at 5:30AM that there is a gathering of some 30 to 40 gulls as if waiting to start their rampage of the city centre.

Most traders we spoke to complained about the daily mess from the gulls as dangerous and disgusting.

Next time you visit the town centre please look around and notice the deterioration from the filth expelled by the gulls and the food waste and campaign through the news media as we are.

 Brian Hunt Worcester City Forum for Older People.