PEOPLE who drop litter will face on-the-spot fines as part of a campaign launched by Darlington Borough Council later this month.

The crackdown on litter, backed by The Northern Echo, will be launched in two weeks time.

The on-going initiative will see people who drop litter fined £50.

As part of the programme, a special litter team has been created to target problem areas in the town. The team will concentrate on clearing main roads into the town centre, shopping centres and outside school gates

Once these areas have been cleared, steps will be taken to ensure they are kept litter-free, with fines being imposed on people who drop litter.

Shops and businesses will be asked to do their bit by ensuring their premises are kept litter-free.

Letters will be sent to more than 2,000 businesses, making them aware of the campaign. Some traders, such as take-away food shops, will be encouraged to provide bins for customers.

Four litter enforcement days will be held, when fines will be imposed on anyone caught dropping litter.

Culprits will also be "named and shamed" in a bid to dissuade them from repeat offending.

Four uniformed wardens will patrol different areas on each day, including the town centre and outlying areas including Cockerton and the Firthmoor estate.

If people are seen dropping litter from a car, the registration number of the vehicle will be taken and the owner will be traced and fined.

On the enforcement days, posters will be displayed in the town bearing the campaign slogan "Litter - It's in your hands - Don't drop it".

Banners will also be put up on traffic islands on roads entering the town centre, warning people of the fines they could face for littering.

Council leader John Williams said: "We are not prepared to tolerate the litter problem any longer. We are trying to come up with a sustainable programme to break down the existing culture where it is acceptable to throw litter down on the street and expect the council to pick it up."