A FOUR-DAY week for refuse collectors and on-the-spot fines for litter-droppers are two initiatives being introduced by a council reported to have some of the dirtiest streets in the country.

Earlier in the year, Stockton Borough Council was voted second worst for street cleaning in the country in an Audit Commission report.

Although the report referred to data collected in 1999 and 2000, the council has since overhauled its cleaning programme.

The five-year programme will include refuse collectors working longer shifts but over four days a week.

It is hoped this will end disruption caused by bank holidays, and will make collections more efficient, with collection teams helping each other complete their rounds.

Simon Dale, of the housing and contract serving department, said: "Since the report, our review of cleaning services has been under way and we have already made massive strides to improve things.

"We really want to push the idea 'care for your area' in everyone's minds in the council, so it can feed down to the residents who can help take responsibility for their area."

A total of £125,000 will be spent on increasing the number of litter and dog waste bins in the borough, and provide better equipment to clean up litter.

An education programme will be introduced in schools to encourage youngsters not to drop litter, and fines will be levied on people who ignore the law.

Mr Dale said: "It is not just children who drop litter, but if we can get to them we may change their views and they will take the message home."

Graffiti, flyposting and fly-tipping will also be targeted, with those responsible fined or prosecuted and any mess quickly cleaned up.

Rather than rely on separate cleaners to work on different aspects of an area, teams are to be employed to clean their own areas.

The revision of policy was brought about following a consultation with councillors and residents, and will be put before the council for approval today.

Mr Dale said: "Everything that people said was fed into the process and has gone into the final report.

"The consultation was not a dummy exercise, and people should start seeing a difference in some areas straight away."