Property owners in a Somerset town should be “ashamed” if they are not pulling their weight to tackle fly tipping and keep the high street looking attractive to newcomers.

Mendip District councillor Bente Height said she feels “passionately” about the council wasting its time and money to clean up Shepton Mallet – when it should not have to.

She said the money being paid out in taxes by local people is being squandered because landowners are not taking pride in their Shepton properties.

Ms Height said, “The property owners have to take ultimate responsibility. It’s a vicious circle with taxpayers in the middle because no businesses want to move into the town when the buildings look like this”.

Some buildings are in such a poor state they pose a safety risk to pedestrians, she added.