HOUSEHOLDERS are demanding councillors rid a Dorchester churchyard of piles of toilet paper and other litter.

Residents say the mess behind the disused All Saints Church, on High East Street, is "getting to an unhealthy level" and claim it presents a bad impression of the town to visitors.

The church closed in 1972 and is now used as a store by Dorset County Museum but the land is owned by West Dorset District Council.

A council spokesman admitted it was forced to clear the site every Monday and was considering new schemes to help rough sleepers.

Jackie Meredith, 37, of High East Street, said: "It is disgusting. There are piles of toilet paper and what else is there I don't want to know, but it doesn't make for a very nice site in what is otherwise a beautiful part of the town. That site is right at the start of the main body of the town and if I'd just driven into Dorchester I wouldn't be very impressed."

Brian Baker, 44, of Icen Way, said the area sometimes smelled 'nasty' and had become unpleasant to look at.

He said: "I don't know if it's youngsters coming out of clubs late at night and getting caught short while they wait for a taxi, or something else. Maybe it would help if the take-aways opposite provided toilets. If it's a more serious problem then Dorchester needs to act soon before we start putting off summertime tourists."

Dorchester Chamber of Commerce president Richard Thorogood, who owns antiques store Time House opposite the churchyard, agreed it was a problem.

He said the chamber had appealed to the council to impose a drinking ban in the churchyard and added: "If the streets are littered it can affect business."

A district council spokesman said: "The district council clears bottles and other rubbish from the site every Monday as the majority is left over the weekend. A 24-hour toilet is provided in Trinity Street.

"Meanwhile, other initiatives are being brought forward in partnership with others."