WHO drops litter? Whoever it is, you are on notice!

Video evidence from will now be good enough to hand out a fine.

Councils are taking a tougher approach including Hyndburn who have brought in a private company, Kingdom, to tackle the issue.

So has the Government and campaigners who want to clamp down on littering, including what is now being dubbed 'middle-class littering.'

This is 'accidental' littering. A used disposable cup on a window sill or carefully balance some rubbish on top or next to a bin in a well-meaning way. The sort that ends up as litter.

It includes chewing gum being left under seats or cigarettes being carelessly flicked outside pubs and other smoking areas. I despair at cig butts just flicked outside.

It's time to stop littering from vehicles. Some of our highways are strewn with window-thrown litter. It costs Highways England alone more than £6million a year to clear rubbish from our nation's roads.

To me, an utter waste of taxpayers' money. An annual 7,500 tonnes of litter in England that has to be picked up should not be dropped in the first place.

I'm glad that my own local authority, Hyndburn, is playing its part in tackling litter louts. 

In a serious move, they are bringing in a top enforcement team funded by the Environment Agency (with no cost to the council taxpayer) to slap fines on irresponsible dog owners and anyone who thinks it is acceptable to leave their litter in the street for others to pick up.

The council is also making plans to find equipment that will get rid of tough-to-remove chewing gum off pavements.

Again all of this effort is a result of one problem; lack of personal responsibility and pride for our local areas. 

Here's the big thing; it's not 'The State's' fault, it is the litter lout. Take note: Not enough bins is not enough of an excuse.

Littering is an issue that, rightly, upsets a lot of people and the sooner attitudes are changed on this matter, the sooner we will enjoy highways and open spaces free of unwanted rubbish.

There are those who think they can get away with it until they are presented with a hefty on the spot fine. Bodycam video is acceptable evidence. Be warned. The provider of evidence should receive some payment in lieu in my view - and for all breaches of laws and regulations. Let's have an honest society.