A COUNCIL is to get tough with litter louts and dog owners who fail to clean up after their pets.

If caught red-handed by street wardens, people who drop litter in East Cleveland will be given the opportunity to pick up their rubbish, and a dog owner told to clean up after their animal.

Failure to comply will see them faced with a fine; refusal to pay will mean prosecution.

Signalling the get-tough policy, Coun Joyce Benbow, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's cabinet member for community safety, said: "We want the public to be responsible and the vast majority are.

"But those people who regularly drop litter or who don't take care to clear up their dog's mess need to know that this will not be tolerated and they will be fined.

"In our latest community survey, residents have told us the borough is getting cleaner - but we still want more improvement.

"Our new area management department is committed to making the borough cleaner, greener and safer and we want the public to have pride in where they live, too."

Street wardens have received special coaching in using the legislation, which includes the imposition of £50 fines, payable within 14 days.

The council says if the fines are not paid, a prosecution for non payment will be considered, with the courts able to impose a fine for non payment of anything from £1,000 to £2,500.

Wardens are to target rubbish hotspots like shopping arcades, countryside walks and back lanes.

The council's new tough line is being introduced as Middlesbrough Council's executive is being recommended by its own council's scrutiny panel to take more enforcement action against fly tippers and litter louts.

Among 22 panel recommendations being considered by the executive is a call for an increase in enforcement and a drive to 'target areas where standards are poor and greater enforcement can be applied.'

Latest research links a 24pc increase in Britain's rat population with dumped food scraps. Fast food packaging dumped on Britain's streets has increased by 12pc, while an estimated 122 tonnes of cigarette butts, matchsticks and cigarette packets and wrappers are dropped every day across the UK.

Cleaning up after people costs local authorities in England about £342m a year.