'Disgusting rubbish is fans' first taste of city'

It stands minutes from world-famous Villa Park, often making it the first taste of Birmingham for thousands of visiting football fans.

But Aston railway station is currently blighted by a disgusting build-up of rubbish, say locals, with campaigner Paul Smith describing the mess as a "Christmas tree of beer cans at the gateway of Birmingham".

"Fans come from all over Europe and this is the welcome they get. What impression are they getting when they go back home?," Mr Smith says.

West Midlands Railway says it is working with Network Rail, which has responsibility for the land, to clear the problem, with the city council saying there is no excuse for littering.

Fans through the station every time Europa League squad Aston Villa play at home.

The rubbish is on either side of the platforms, and in the under entrance to the station.

Mr Smith says it's a persistent problem, but with more people travelling to Villa Park recently, it's become worse.

"You can't not say its fans coming through, as a lot of the rubbish is beer cans - but you know local residents as well, seeing this and probably using this area," he said.

"Football isn't on all the time, so I think its a multiple of both. But my main concern is how can this be stopped":[]}