AN eyesore patch of land that has been plagued by litter louts is to be spruced up after two years of complaints by residents.

Confusion over who owns the land, at the end of Denmark Street, off North Road, Darlington, has meant that nobody has taken responsibility for it for at least the last two years.

In that time it has become a dumping ground for dozens of empty beer cans and vodka bottles and even needles have been spotted among the debris.

The fire brigade have also attended in the past because youths piled up wooden pallets, likely taken from the grounds of the adjacent retail park, and were intending to set fire to them.

Today (Friday, February 27) Darlington Borough Council confirmed that it does not own the land so is not responsible for its upkeep, but as a gesture of goodwill the authority is prepared to clean it up next week.

A council spokeswoman said it would then be up to the local community to organise litter picks until the owner is identified through the Land Registry Office.

She said: “Although the land doesn’t belong to us we are aware of residents’ concerns so we will send a team there next week to do a litter pick and tidy up.

“But looking to the future, if interested residents want to get together and do a community litter pick the council would be very happy to supply them with equipment and all the necessary support.”

One nearby resident, who did not wish to be named, said she was pleased the council were going to clean the area once, but questioned why it should then be left in the hands of the community to investigate ownership or tidy it themselves.

“I certainly don’t think that residents want to go in there; what you can see from the path is probably just the tip of the iceberg, there could be all sorts in there.” she said.

Any resident who did wish to organise a future litter pick should contact Phillippa Scrafton at the council on 01325-406648.