FOUR rubbish blackspots were targeted by Darlington's anti-litter squad on Friday.

The anti-litter patrols are part of a Darlington Borough Council campaign, backed by The Northern Echo, to clean up the streets of the town.

Uniformed wardens patrolling the streets can hand out £50 on-the-spot fines to anyone seen dropping litter. On Friday, for the first time, the clean-up took place in areas of the town which residents had named as litter blackspots.

Wardens patrolled Cockerton shopping centre, Burnside Road, Firthmoor, Asda at Whinfield, and the Mowden shops.

Clean-up squads were also in the areas to make sure that any rubbish was picked up.

Council leader John Williams said, "The response to our first litter enforcement day a week ago, was excellent. The town centre looked really tidy and the litter bins were full.

"Imposing fines is a last resort but that is what we are prepared to do if that is what it takes to keep our town clean."