DROPPING litter in Hartlepool could cost the culprits a £25 fine under a new scheme.

Hartlepool Borough Council has been clamping down on litter louts in an effort to clean up the town.

It is planning to introduce fixed penalty fines under a government act.

The council hopes the threat of a fine will act as a deterrent and encourage people to dispose of their rubbish in bins instead of the streets.

Bernard Williams, the council's director of neighbourhood services, said that the council had been pumping a lot of money and effort into improving the environment.

The introduction of wheelie bins and used needle collection services were already having an impact.

However, he said: "The council also has an enforcement role and we hope the re-introduction of fixed penalty notices will help to persuade people who drop litter to change their ways."

Fining the public for dropping litter was agreed in principle by a council committee. Councillors will read a further report before rubber-stamping the move.

Councillor John Lauderdale, chairman of the neighbourhood services board, said: "We need the support of everyone to make the town cleaner. If litter wasn't dropped in the first place there would be no need to clean it up.