AN undercover litter hit squad given out £50 fines to twelve people as it targeted Darlington town centre at the weekend.

The fines were part of a clean-up campaign by Darlington Borough Council, which was launched last November.

Since then, the council's team of uniformed wardens have patrolled the streets in a series of enforcement days, issuing warnings and fines to anyone caught dropping litter.

But on Saturday, the campaign changed tactics and the wardens patrolled in plain clothes, catching out the litter-droppers.

Wardens also issued six official warnings to youngsters and several verbal warnings to others dropping rubbish.

Businesses in the town centre were also given advice on preventing littering and wardens checked shopfronts and alleys.

Other businesses were issued warnings for failing to clean up outside their premises.

Since the litter campaign was launched, 16 people have been fined and more than 50 cautioned.