AN MP is calling for a team to be allowed to clean up a former Woolworth s store after it has become a blot on a town centre. Hitchin MP Peter Lilley has joined forces with town centre manager Keith Hoskins to try to smarten up the frontage of the forme

AN MP is calling for a team to be allowed to clean up a former Woolworth's store after it has become a blot on a town centre.

Hitchin MP Peter Lilley has joined forces with town centre manager Keith Hoskins to try to smarten up the frontage of the former Woolies store, which is boarded up and in a state of disrepair after the chain store went into administration in February.

He said: "The town's High Street is one of its major assets and it's a great shame that it is made to look unattractive by unused properties. It would not take a big effort to create an altogether more pleasing facade, and so make shopping in Hitchin a more pleasant experience.

"I know Keith Hoskins, the Hitchin town centre manager, would welcome the opportunity to do something about it, but so far has received little or no cooperation from the people responsible for the building. I am putting my weight behind his efforts by contacting the companies involved to ask them to cooperate - in their own interests as well as those of Hitchin."

Mr Hoskins said: "I am increasingly frustrated at the lack of progress. Since February I have been in touch with the letting agent, the freeholder's agents and the company administrators - all to no avail.

"The abandoned Woolworth's is an eyesore. All we want to do is get access to clean and tidy up the inside and make the frontage more presentable.

"We have no other agenda other than to improve the look of the property and I am exasperated that no one with responsibility for the building feels able to help.