A CRACKDOWN on litter in Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, is under way.
A new team of anti-litter officers has handed out 160 warning cards to children urging them not to damage the environment.
Gateshead Council is taking a tough stance on people who fly-post, fly-tip, scrawl graffiti and allow their dogs to foul in public.
It can issue £50 fines to anyone caught doing so and has issued two so far, one in Birtley and one in Dunston.
Gateshead Council's enrivonment councillor, Michael McNestry, said: "Vandalism in our streets causes distress to people who live or visit in the area.
"Our policy is to tackle the problem head-on by identifying those people who act in this way, which will hopefully discourage others from copying and dishearten those who already vandalise their area.
"The team will be visiting other areas of the borough in the coming months."
The council spends £3.7m a year cleaning streets.
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