AN environmental blitz is to be carried out this week as part of a successful initiative.

The Headland in Hartlepool will be targeted from today as part of Operation Clean Sweep, with particular emphasis placed on tackling problems posed by litter, dog fouling and abandoned and nuisance vehicles.

The blitz will be led by enforcement officers from Hartlepool Borough Council's Neighbourhood Enforcement Team, who will be patrolling the area.

People caught dropping litter or who fail to clear up after their pets could receive £50 fixed penalty notices.

Owners can have their dogs "chipped" free at the Borough Hall, on the Headland, on Wednesday, from noon to 2pm.

The procedure involves inserting a microchip, which carries details of the dog's owner, under the dog's skin.

If the dog then strays and is recovered, the microchip can be read and matched with information held on a computer database, allowing the dog to be returned more quickly.

Neighbourhood enforcement manager Craig Thelwell said: "The Headland is an historic and interesting area that attracts a lot of visitors.

"We are not prepared to allow people to ruin its appeal by dropping litter and letting their pets foul footpaths and promenades.

"I would urge people to use the litter bins, dog dirt bins and the recently-introduced dog stops, which dispense bio-degradable poop scoop bags at all times - or risk a £50 fine."

Operation Clean Sweep is the idea of Hartlepool Mayor Stuart Drummond and involves concentrating resources in a specific area of the town for up to a week.

Other activities taking place on the Headland this week will include street and gully cleansing, horticultural works and the repainting of some street lighting columns.

Trading standards officers will be visiting local shops to highlight a number of issues, including under-age sales of alcohol, and Cleveland Fire Brigade representatives will be visiting St Bega's and St Helen's primary schools to talk to pupils about safety.