STREET traders in Leigh are helping council officials kick illegal hawkers into touch.

Only one person was prosecuted in the borough last year for failing to have the proper licence - compared to eight the year before.

In a report to be presented to the Strategy Committee next week, Wigan Council puts the fall in numbers down to vigilant street traders.

It states: "A degree of self-policing is taking place with consented traders informing officers of those trading illegally."

The report also proposes that fees for street sellers are increased from £260 to £270 for existing traders and £220 to £230 for new traders.