RESIDENTS are backing a petition to bring back cleaning services to their streets.

The petition, which was set up by Councillor Ben Shirley, is urging Barrow Council to reinstate regular street cleaning services in Dalton and Askam.

Cllr Shirley is calling on the authority to give the area 'equal service' to Barrow, which does have its own street cleaning services.

The Dalton North Conservative councillor said he had received the backing from Labour colleagues in the area as well as from parish councils on the issue.

The petition says: "Until recently, Dalton in Furness had a dedicated street cleaner for four days a week, and Askam and Ireleth had a dedicated street cleaner for the other day.

"Working together as a local community, we are campaigning to bring back the dedicated street cleaner for our area.

"Sign our petition to send a message to the council."

Mr Shirley is due to present the petition at a meeting of Barrow Council in December.

He said: "My inbox is overloaded with residents lobbying me about this. The overwhelming view seems to be local people want the street cleaner to return to the area.

"The Dalton area would like the street scene to be kept clean and tidy so we have a community to be proud of.

"There is a feeling that Dalton comes second to Barrow

"I'm calling on Barrow Council to do the right thing and give equal service to its Barrovian neighbours."

According to Mr Shirley, at the time of writing, more than 120 people had added their names to the online petition after it went live on Sunday night.

It is understood that Clayton Noble, who was previously tasked by council contractors FCC Environment to clean the streets in Dalton and Askam, was redeployed by the business earlier in the year.

Well loved in the town, Mr Noble was a previous winner of Dalton’s Citizen of the Year award, presented by Dalton Town Council.

Barrow Council's leader Ann Thomson previously said discussions were taking place about street cleaning across the borough with FCC.

Members of the Dalton Community Action Group have also called for dedicated street cleaning services to return.

See the petition here