RETIRED prison officer Don Gordon is determined to see the streets of Spennymoor cleaned up now that he is in charge of an environmental action group.

Mr Gordon has been appointed chairman of Spennymoor Town Centre Forum's environmental sub-committee.

He took over the post from local photographer George Teasdale, who held the title for three years.

Mr Teasdale has designed posters urging people not to drop litter. These are being displayed in windows by most local businesses.

For more than two years, Mr Gordon has voluntarily patrolled the town picking up litter and tidying areas, including the benches at the top of High Street, which he and his wife, Mavis, have just cleaned.

As chairman of the sub-committee he hopes to influence council and retail bosses into making the town as attractive as possible.

He said: "I am so passionate about making the most of Spennymoor that I will do all I can in this role to do just that. George has done a tremendous job, particularly with a poster campaign.

"The committee will continue to work closely with the town and borough council, Claire Andrews, who runs the precinct, and town centre manager Wendy Benson.

"Bobby Watson, the town lengthsman (person responsible for maintaining a length of road) since September, works really hard. Things are moving in the right direction, but I must make sure Spennymoor gets even better."

Mr Gordon said he is backing The Northern Echo's Shopping for a Future campaign, which supports town centre traders in south Durham, and hopes it will show people why Spennymoor is worth visiting.