A COUNCIL says it is standing firm over litter and warning people it will prosecute anyone throwing rubbish from cars.

Hyndburn Council's 'Don't be a Tosser' campaign is part of the national Keep Britain Tidy scheme set up by the independent national charity Environmental Campaigns.

The authority's hard-line approach to the campaign was highlighted when it prosecuted two disabled people on invalidity benefit for leaving their rubbish bags out.

Spina bifida sufferer Mark Kay, 28, of Beech Street, Accrington, and chronic asthmatic Mavis Pearson, 58, of the same street, said they had been penalised by Hyndburn Council because they were disabled and struggled to manage their litter.

But after the duo became the first people to be prosecuted under environmental laws, council bosses say they will not cave in to litter bugs.

The authority has issued twelve £50 fixed penalty notices under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 -- four have been paid to avoid prosecution and five are being dealt with by solicitors before a summons is issued.

A spokesperson for the council said: "We are backing the campaign and taking this opportunity to reinforce our commitment to ensuring a cleaner borough.

"The council recently prosecuted two residents for littering offences and will continue this tough approach by also imposing fines on anyone found tossing litter from cars."

Coun Ann Scaife, Hyndburn Council's portfolio holder for the environment and cleansing, said: "Throwing litter from vehicles on to public land is an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

"The Act is an important landmark for setting high standards of cleanliness, but legislation alone will not achieve a clean Britain.

"We all have a responsibility to keep our local environment clean and tidy, and the zero tolerance stance of Hyndburn Council is going a long way to ensuring a cleaner borough."