BOROUGH street cleaners are under fire after a spot-check by the leader of Ealing Council revealed graffiti, flytipping and "strewn litter" on an estate in Northolt.

Cllr Jason Stacey has urged contractors ECT to make "immediate improvements" to cleanliness on the Islip Manor Estate after a surprise inspection on Wednesday, August 30, the second area of the borough to receive such a visit.

Northolt Mandeville ward councillors, council officers, and representatives of Ealing Homes and ECT were part of the inspection team operating under the leadership's new reality checks scheme.

Cllr Stacey said: "The choice of venue for the street cleaning reality check was really governed by a walkabout on the Islip Manor Estate I undertook two weeks ago.

"The Islip Manor Estate was simply not up to standard then and I have to say that in the past two weeks things have not improved.

"Visiting again on Wednesday, graffiti had still not been cleared, flytipped rubbish remained uncollected and the place was strewn with litter.

"Residents have every right to be so unhappy."

After checking the estate, the group visited other nearby roads including Alderney Gardens, Church Road, and Manor Avenue.

Cllr Stacey continued: "The poor state of the Islip Manor Estate became even more apparent once we left to inspect other local roads which were much tidier.

"There is a lot that needs to be done and I am not satisfied with the current situation."

Cllr Stacey said he would be drawing up a plan with officers to map out how improvements can be achieved.

Street cleanliness is one of the leader's main concerns after coming to power in May.

He has pledged to make 13 more spot checks between now and Christmas to ensure ECT "meet their obligations to the authority and the borough's residents".