THE quality of the south west's local environment is slipping fast. That is the message from a national study by Keep Britain Tidy, which looks at the condition of the country's streets, housing areas, waterways and shopping districts.

Despite national improvements since last year, the report branded 52 per cent of areas in the south west as unsatisfactory.

The report highlights pavements stained with vomit and urine and litter bins in bad condition.

Executive director Amanda Booth said: "For the first time in years a national survey has shown improvements in the state of England, but the south west has little to boast about."

The study scoured 11,900 sites across the country looking at 12 different land uses, from council estates to industrial estates. But the south west did share top spot for shifting litter.