A dirty mattress, empty beer cans and discarded building rubble were some of the items removed from a service road in South Harrow - the first of 12 'grotspots' Harrow Council will blitz by the end of the year.

The council, in a campaign supported by the Harrow Observer series, wants you to help identify a 'Dirty Dozen' of the worst graffiti-daubed walls, flytippers' favourite spots or litterbugs' havens.

As the worst offenders are identified a council team will go and blitz the Dirty Dozen.

A viaduct walk off Welbeck Road, Harrow became the first offender of the dirty dozen to be tackled by the council's envirocrime team. Although the road is the responsibility of Transport for London (TfL), it was nominated by three concerned Observer readers.

One reader, Joan Carter, 71, was on hand to see the operation in full swing on Monday morning.

She said: "Every day on my way to the shops I have to avoid tripping over discarded waste. It's a local eyesore and I'm pleased that Councillor Susan Hall and her team have supported residents by cleaning up the road today."

Councillor Hall, portfolio holder for environment services, said: "It's clear from the residents

I have spoken to that this local dumping ground is having a negative impact upon the quality of their lives.

"We will be contacting TfL recommending they install CCTV cameras so the council can prosecute those responsible."

Council and Observer staff joined forces last Saturday to raise awareness about the campaign by handing out information, nomination forms and balloons to people in the town centre.

Editor David Tilley, who helped out on the day, said: "It was a really interesting afternoon, and it was good to meet so many readers who are so concerned about their surroundings and the state of their borough."

The closing date for nominations is November 30. However, the council is considering suggestions now, so get your responses in early.

A grotspot will be cleaned each week and the campaign will run until just before Christmas.

All you need do to nominate your local area for a clean-up is cut out and fill in the coupon on the left, sending it to the address shown.

Alternatively, just click on the link and fill in the council's online survey at: www.harrow.gov.uk/grotspot, or follow the link to reach our Facebook group at www.harrow observer.co.uk, where you can post your nominations, comments and pictures. 

* Please note: nominations will not be accepted for privately-owned property.