A COUNCIL crackdown on litter louts aimed at cleaning up Darlington's streets is celebrating its first successes.

Twelve children dropping rubbish were caught red handed in the town centre by a new team of council wardens.

Their parents have been issued with final warnings with the understanding that should the youngsters be caught again they will be fined £25 each.

Darlington Borough Council began a crackdown on unsightly litter in the autumn in a bid to strengthen its enforcement of anti-litter laws.

A team of 32 officers from its public protection division was sent into action with the power to issue on-the-spot fines. The team includes two full-time environmental wardens, three new community wardens and a number of car park wardens.

Litter louts who are fined are given 14 days to pay and if they fail to do so they face criminal charges at the town's magistrates court. Wardens can also call on the help of police back-up if somebody refuses to pay a fine imposed.

Council chiefs have stressed that their purge on litter is not just restricted to town centre streets.

Last week two Darlington women were fined £25 at court and ordered to pay £50 costs for littering offences.

Lucy Cox, of Arthur Street, Darlington, and Sandra Ann Keith, of Shildon Street, Darlington, both pleaded guilty to depositing refuse without permission in a back lane.

Councillor Stephen Harker, Darlington Borough Council cabinet member for environmental protection, said: "We are determined to keep our town centre litter-free.

"Unsightly litter spoils the look of our town centre and the council tax payers pick up the clean up bill."

As well as the litter crackdown Darlington Council is also looking at new ways of educating youngsters in schools and getting the message across that dropping rubbish in the street is wrong.

A council spokesman added: "It is not just about telling people what to do and using the big stick.

"A mixture of enforcement and education is always the best way to tackle problems like this."