WEAR Valley District Council and Bishop Auckland Town Centre Forum have joined forces in an attempt to rid the streets of cigarette ends.

The "stubbi", a small plastic reusable pouch for smokers to put out their cigarettes in, was handed out to smokers in Bishop Auckland and Crook last year and proved very popular.

Thousands of free stubbi pouches are being given out again, while stocks last, at the following locations: Crook Civic Centre; Cash Office, Market Place, Bishop Auckland; Neighbourhood office, Proudfoot Drive, Bishop Auckland; Four Clocks Centre, Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland; Eldon Lane; One Stop Shop; Crook Community Partnership; Coundon Eden Centre; Willington Resource Centre and Durham Dales Centre, Stanhope.

Wear Valley street wardens will also be distributing stubbi pouches.

Derek Toon, Bishop Auckland town centre manager, said: "I hope this initiative will remind people that cigarette butts are litter and encourage them to dispose of their litter responsibly."