AN ongoing battle against the litter problems in Tollcross is set to move up a gear with the launch of a website highlighting problem hotspots.

A catalogue of photos of the biggest blights on the area will feature on the site, which will be called the Festival of Rubbish to coincide with Edinburgh's numerous festivals next month. David Rintoul, the former chairman of Tollcross Community Council, has taken on the challenge as he is frustrated by the constant litter problems which plague the area.

He said amongst the worst areas are Chuckie Pend, just off Morrison Street, Dunbar Street and Hopetoun Court in Fountainbridge. The website is designed to encourage people to complain to their local councillors and environmental wardens in a bid to "embarrass" the city council into taking action.

Mr Rintoul said: "We've got the art festival, book festival, film festival and jazz festival, so I thought it's time we had a rubbish festival too. I'm really making a big effort to get Tollcross tidied up and to embarrass a few people into making it tidy.

"I took a walk around the city centre area of Tollcross the other day taking photos and noting the problems, and discovered three discarded mattresses while I was there." Mr Rintoul says he has already been in touch with environmental services and the Keep Scotland Beautiful campaign regarding the litter problems in Tollcross.

City officials are planning a visit to the area at the end of the month to assess the problems for themselves.