Nearly a quarter of streets in the resort are covered in rubbish such as soil, grit, gravel and rotten vegetables – known as detritus – above what is deemed the acceptable standard.

And more than 10 per cent of Blackpool's pavements have 'unacceptable' levels of litter – including cigarette butts, food packaging waste and dog dirt.

Figures obtained from the Audit Commission by the GMB put Blackpool as having the fourth dirtiest streets in the region.

The cleanest were in Carlisle and the worst in St Helens. The national average was 12 per cent of streets covered in detritus for 2008/2009.

Coun Ian Fowler, cabinet member for business services at Blackpool Council, said changes had been put in place since.

He added: ""This has resulted in a reduction in detritus which is notoriously difficult to clean as parked cars restrict.

"In a busy town like Blackpool, which has a greater footfall than others, the difference can be quite significant depending on the time of day.

"Our streets are cleaner than ever."

Last year Blackpool carried out a £100,000 deep clean to remove grime and one of the biggest problems ruining the appearance of streets – chewing gum.

It also pledged to empty bins up to six times a day to help keep the Promenade sparkling.

Fylde came out at 18th in the survey – with 12 per cent of land and highways having deposits of detritus worse than an acceptable level and six per cent when it came to litter.

Wyre was the 20th cleanest – out of 43 areas – with 10 per cent unacceptable detritus and eight per cent unacceptable litter.

Fylde Council deals with street cleaning in both Fylde and Wyre.

Alan Oldfield, director of customer and operational services in Fylde, said: "Fylde has a few grot spots. We work to keep it clean and tidy, but are fortunate with the way the population and visitors treat it."