PEOPLE in Middlesbrough are dissatisfied with street cleaning, highway maintenance and refuse collection services, according to an independent report.

The Audit Commission found high levels of rubbish, problems with fly-tipping and a large number of roads in need of repair.

Commissioning inspector Pat Thynne said Middlesbrough Council had been awarded one star out of a possible three, because there was room for improvement.

"Middlesbrough Council knows how important this service is to local people and is keen to raise standards," she said. "Extra money has been set aside to achieve this and a detailed improvement plan has been developed.

"However, although work is already under way, local people are not yet seeing any significant improvements on the ground."

The inspection team said the overall "streetscene" service provided by the authority was fair and had promising prospects for improvement.

The council was praised for its approach to enforcement, its wheelie bin scheme and for providing good street lighting and grounds maintenance.

But inspectors recommended that the council review its road repair system and publish service standards so the public knows what to expect.

"Some improvements are being paid for by limited external funds and the council will need to find the money to continue this work into the future," said Mrs Thynne.

Mike Wood, the council's head of street and land services, said: "The report acknowledges that work has begun and strategies are in place to address all the issues which it raised."