A GRIME-BUSTING duo who have been appointed as North Lincolnshire's new park inspectors have seen a 50 per cent drop in vandalism since they first took to the streets.

For the past five months Mick Sowerby, 60, of Scunthorpe has been patrolling more than 50 parks in a bid to drive out cases of litter and vandalism, which has blighted the region's play areas over the past 12 months.

Mick said that since the scheme had been introduced, he had noticed 'vast improvements' since he took up the role in October last year.

He said: "There has been an improvement in the parks. I would say they have been 80 per cent cleaner.

"From a year ago, I would say vandalism has been cut down by at least 50 per cent.

"I think that's specifically due to the fact that we've been seen in the parks and I think its encouraging to see.

"We're never going to stop it completely but if we can improve cleanliness and cut vandalism."

But he said he is confident that with the recent addition of teammate John McGovern, the pair will be able to crackdown on the problems of broken glass.

He said: "Many of the problems are youths drinking, not so much the youths but the aftermath of the youths drinking - leaving glass bottles, litter and quite a percentage of vandalism."

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