LITTER louts in Burnley town centre are being warned -- pick it up or be fined.

The message comes six months since the council introduced regular 'dog dirt' patrol officers who survey the streets and parks issuing fixed penalty notices to anyone who does not clear up after their dog.

So far 15 notices have been issued to owners and all have paid their £25 penalty.

Officers will shortly begin a similar campaign targeting those people who drop litter in the town centre.

The campaign will then be extended throughout the borough with fixed penalty notices issued to litter louts.

Litter includes cigarette stubs, cigarette packets, crisp packets, cans and chewing gum and all items should be disposed of properly by taking them home or putting them into a bin.

It currently costs Burnley Council more than £700,000 per year to clean the streets of Burnley and most of the rubbish removed from the streets is litter which could easily be properly disposed of.

Coun Charles Bullas, executive member for public protection and community safety, said: "Litter creates a bad impression of our town and the people who live in it.

"We want to target the minority of people who spoil things for the rest of us and hope that our new policy of enforcement will make people think twice before dropping litter in the street."

The council is stressing that irresponsible behaviour will not be tolerated and in an effort to improve the environment for everybody, litter louts will be caught and fined.