LITTER louts have been fined in a clampdown across County Durham.

Wardens from Durham County Council’s neighbourhood protection team have tackled several issues including fly tipping, dog fouling and anti-social behaviour during March.

The team issued 89 fixed penalty notices for littering, 35 for failing to respond to requests to clear untidy yards and gardens and ten for dog fouling.

Six offenders were also prosecuted for fly tipping, with one person ordered to pay a £330 fine.

A further five prosecutions were brought for non-payment of fixed penalty notices for failing to tidy gardens or yards.

Non-payment of fines saw eight people taken to court while 145 advisory letters were sent to owners of untidy gardens. Three more were issued for allowing dogs to stray.

Ian Hoult, the council’s neighbourhood protection manager, said: “Environmental offences like these significantly impact upon and blight our villages, towns and rural areas.

“Fly tipping is a serious offence and we will prosecute those who illegally dispose of their waste.

“Householders have a duty of care to use a registered waste carrier to make sure rubbish is disposed of properly without being dumped.

“We investigate incidents to find evidence to link the fly tipping back to those who dump it.”

All incidents of dog fouling, littering and fly tipping should be reported to the council on 03000-261-000 or online at durham.gov.uk