PEOPLE caught dropping litter in Blackburn and Darwen face £50 on-the-spot fines from this week.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has agreed new by-laws so officers can issue fixed penalty notices to people who refuse to pick up their rubbish.

Ultimately, it is hoped to use the powers to persuade people not even to stub out their cigarettes on the pavement -- but only when new smoking bins have been introduced across the borough.

Council chiefs today said the new by-laws -- which include similar penalties for graffiti artists and people fly-posting -- were the latest part of its Thrash The Trash offensive, aimed at cleaning up the borough.

To promote the initiative, the first 10 people in both Blackburn and Darwen seen using a litter bin after it was launched, were rewarded with £5.

Police will initially accompany the borough's environmental town rangers to ensure potential offenders understand the project has their backing.

Those seen dropping litter will be asked to pick it up and bin it. If they refuse, their full name, address and date of birth will be taken and the ranger will explain that they have 14 days to pay the fine before prosecution proceedings start.

Officers will also look out for people hurling rubbish from cars. They will note the vehicle registration, make, colour, location and time before obtaining registration details from DVLA and the fixed penalty notice will be issued to the registered keeper through the post.

Court prosecution could involve a fine of up to £1,000 - plus costs.

Coun Mohammed Khan, executive member for housing and neighbourhood series, said: "These fines will target the minority of people in the borough who spoil it for the majority. A £50 fine should make every litterbug, graffiti artist or fly-poster think again about what they are doing."

Coun Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration, said: "The residents of our borough are demanding a cleaner environment - so the council is introducing fixed penalty notices as a deterrent, with the hope that it will encourage other people to keep the borough clean by binning their rubbish.

"We would obviously prefer it if we didn't fine anyone - we would then know that the wishes of the residents had been met and we had achieved our goal of having a clean, litter and graffiti-free borough."

Other boroughs in East Lancashire already have the on-the-spot fines system.