A CAMPAIGN is being mounted to put a halt to littering and fly-tipping in North Yorkshire's streets, after the disclosure that it is costing taxpayers £2m a year.

The project being launched to combat the problem involves borough and district councils, police, North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales national parks, and the Environment Agency.

North Yorkshire county councillor Roger Harrison-Topham, chairman of the research group set up to investigate the extent of the litter problem, said "There are parts of the county where litter is a very real and expensive problem."

A public survey carried out by the county council found that 76 per cent of those questioned about littering believed teenagers were the main culprits and 60 per cent blamed schoolchildren.

Respondents said the worst affected areas were shopping areas, open spaces and parks.

But people buying take-aways are seen as the biggest villains - blamed for 82 per cent of the litter in the streets.

The survey, to be discussed on Wednesday by the county council's environment and heritage committee, shows that nearly half of people believe a litter-strewn area leads to other forms of anti-social behaviour.

"We aim to adopt a shared vision on the street scene and general environment, to make the county cleaner, safer and greener for those who live and work here, and for our visitors," said Coun Harrison-Topham.

"The key objective is to reduce litter, rather than find better ways of clearing it up. This will only be achieved if people of all ages and socio-economic groups recognise that litter is anti-social, a danger to health and well-being, and unacceptable."