PEOPLE in Melksham have described their streets as slums.

Bryan Sandford, of Montague Place, handed a petition on Monday to Melksham Town Council demanding action over the weeds growing out of control along roadsides and verges.

More than 200 people signed Mr Sandford's petition, which described the streets as slums.

He said: "We pay our council tax but continue to have blocked drains, untidy streets, no street maintenance, long grass and rubbish."

Mr Sandford has been in regular touch with Wiltshire County Council and West Wiltshire District Council over the last two years about the weeds.

In June the weeds were more than two feet high along the kerbs, particularly in Melksham Forest, and plants were growing up through the pavements.

The weed killing programme is organised by the county council's highways department.

The authority's district highways surveyor Ian Janes was at the town council meeting and received the petition passed from mayor Vic Oakman.

He said: "We did carry out a weed killing programme and cleared drains, but we will investigate people's concerns further."

Trevor Askew, head of commercial services at West Wiltshire District Council, said if both authorities could work closer together over weed cutting and street cleaning the service would meet people's needs.