Oxford families took to the streets after an alleyway near their homes became a dumping ground for litter louts and dog walkers.

They cleaned up the mess in the short-cut behind their homes in Cardigan Street, Jericho.

Ten residents, helped by willing children, gathered up armfuls of dustbin liners and spent a day clearing up rubbish.

Their environmental improvements were praised by city councillor Susanna Pressel.

People in Cardigan Street got together to clean up litter and dog messCllr Pressel, the Labour member for West Ward, said: "They've done an absolutely superb job, even though there's still the remaining problem of graffiti.

"They spent a whole day doing it, and deserve to be praised for what they have done."

One of the residents behind the rubbish blitz, Anna Joseph, said it was an arduous task.

She said: "It took us all day and I certainly felt the effects the next day."

Mrs Joseph, who has three children aged between eight and three, said the rubbish dumped in the alleyway included not only domestic refuse, but also old sinks, tables and kitchen units, as well as piles of dog mess.

She added: "We decided to get on and do it ourselves.

"The children were always getting punctures on their bikes because of old nails lying about, and we just thought if it was going to be like this all summer, it was going to be a nightmare."