Newcastle's Grey Street is voted the finest in Britain

Oxford Street, known worldwide as a shoppers' paradise, has been named one of London's worst roads.

Oxford Street, known worldwide as a shoppers' paradise, has been named one of London's worst roads.

Listeners to the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 who took part in a vote attacked the street for its litter, which "laps" at the ankles, and hawkers selling "dodgy" perfumes.

Streatham High Road, south London, was named Britain's worst street, with voters pinpointing "an ever growing number of Met yellow signs advertising violent crime".

Over the past few weeks hundreds of listeners nominated streets as the best and worst in Britain. The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment assessed the submissions and came up with the definitive list.

In the worst list, the Cornmarket, Oxford, was second and Drakes Circus, Plymouth third. Topping the best list was Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, with High Pavement, Nottingham, next.

Marylebone High Street was voted London's best street, with one voter describing it as a "haven in the middle of the frantic city". Northcote Road, Battersea, and The Mall, Westminster, complete the top three in London.

Aside from Streatham High Road, two other roads in south London boroughs are in the worst category for the city. Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, is attacked for having "railings broken by joy-riders", "pavements like the face of the moon" and rotting rubbish. Rye Lane, Peckham had "putrid smelling bins which are filled with waste from unlicensed butchers".

Duke Street, Glasgow, was criticised for the "incredible amount of dog poo" on its pavements, but the city council for New Street, Birmingham, was praised for having put "thought, time and money" into its design.

BRITAIN'S BEST AND WORST

LONDON

Worst:
1. Streatham High Road, Streatham.
2. Coldharbour Lane, Brixton.
3. Highbury Corner, Islington.
4. Rye Lane, Peckham.
5. Oxford Street, West End.

Best:
1. Marylebone High Street.
2. Northcote Road, Battersea.
3. The Mall, Westminster.

SOUTH .

Worst:
1. Cornmarket Street, Oxford.
2. Leatherhead High Street, Surrey.
3. Drakes Circus, Plymouth.

Best:
1. Guildford High Street, Surrey.
2. Oxford High Street.
3. Bristol Millennium Square.

WALES

Worst : Newport Road, Cardiff.

Best: Wrexham High Street.

WEST MIDLANDS

Worst : A34 at Perry Barr.

Best : New Street, Birmingham.

EAST MIDLANDS

Worst: Maid Marion Way, Nottingham.

Best : High Pavement, Nottingham.

EAST ANGLIA . Worst: St Stephen's Street, Norwich.

Best: Hatter Street, Bury St Edmunds.

NORTH-WEST

Worst: The Strand, Liverpool.

Best : Water Street/Castle Street, Liverpool.

NORTH-EAST

Worst: Neville Street, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Best: Grey Street, Newcastle.

YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE.

Worst : Belle Isle Road, Leeds.

Best: Westborough, Scarborough.

SCOTLAND

Worst: Duke Street, Glasgow.

Best: Buchanan Street, Glasgow.