LITTER louts will soon be hit with on the spot fines of up to £50 for dropping rubbish on the streets of Fareham.

A team of enforcers with the power to slap fines on offenders is due to hit the streets in September.

Anyone caught dropping anything on the floor - including chewing gum and cigarettes - could be fined.

Council bosses acted after a survey revealed that 92 per cent of residents wanted stronger action in a bid to tidy up the borough's pavements, roads and green spaces.

About £630,000 of council taxpayers' money is spent every year cleaning-up Fareham. £8,000 alone is spent on removing chewing gum.

A large part of that money goes on expensive specialist steaming equipment that has to be used to remove chewing gum from paving flags.

Before the team swing into action in two months time, council chiefs are staging an awareness campaign - Bin Your Butts - to warn residents of the stiff response they face for flouting the litter law.

"Litter from cigarettes and chewing gum is an increasing problem for our environment and we need everybody's help to combat it," said Councillor Brian Bayford, the council's executive member for health and environment.

"Hopefully, this campaign will raise awareness of litter enforcement laws as well as individual responsibility to dispose of litter sensibly."

The team will provide round-the- clock patrols and target known litter hot spots in a bid to catch offenders.

Cash from fines could be spent on providing cleaning equipment.

Keep Britain Tidy Campaign spokesman Laura Eastman said: "A survey shows that people drop litter because they think they'll never get caught.

"The threat of fines, along with campaigning and education, are the best combination to teach people to use a bin."

The Bin Your Butts road show will be at The Podium, West Street, Fareham, on Wednesday between 11am and 3pm.

Smokers can pick up free pocket ashtrays in which to start binning their butts.

Dozens of litter enforcers are being recruited for the drive, led by Fareham, but also covering Bracknell, Basingstoke and Deane, Rushmoor and Guildford council areas.

What do you think about the plans to fine people who are caught littering the streets? Is £50 an acceptable penalty or do you think it should be more or less? Call the Daily Echo on 01329 285 503 or e-mail ben.clerkin@soton-echo.co.uk.