A Dudley man is demanding action to clean up two eyesore sites which he claims pose a danger to children.

Simon Townend has grown increasingly concerned about the state of Wolverhampton Street - a much-used road in and out of the town centre, which he says has looked tired and scruffy for several years. He is particularly worried about two large plots at the junction with School Street, which he has described as being in a particularly distressing state. He said:

"Despite repeated discussion with Dudley Council, these large areas have deteriorated further - one has huge amounts of rubbish strewn across it and the other plot includes an increasingly dilapidated building with a crumbling roof.

"Vegetation encroaches on public footpaths from both plots. A very rough public path past one site has had holes down into the plot, which is a danger particularly to toddlers."

Mr Townend said one of the sites was a former brass stamping factory and the other has a building with a sign saying 'Welcome Home Design', which he said is the most unwelcoming building you could imagine.

In a bid to get something done about the sites, Mr Townend started a petition, which has now attracted more than 117 signatures, calling for the council to contact the site owners, insisting that they make the land safe and tidy. Cllr Khurshid Ahmed, cabinet member for economic development said:

"There is an active and positive dialogue with the owners of these Wolverhampton Street properties as to how they could refurbish or develop their sites. It is hoped that this will result in improvements to the sites and may include further planning applications.

"At this point, we would be in a position to consult with local people and businesses about any proposals. If discussions prove to be unsuccessful, the council, as the local planning authority, can consider formal enforcement action."