PRESTON City Council is putting your money straight in the bin!

The council has put an extra £50,000 toward cleaning up litter in the city centre.

The money funds the cost of two extra members of staff and means existing staff can put in extra hours.

A dedicated city centre crew now covers an 11am-7pm shift, Sunday-Thursday, dealing with the rubbish that comes from more people using the city in the evening and at weekends.

The new regime has been welcomed by Preston businesses.

Julia Horn, general manager of the Chamber of Trade, said: "The new cleaning regime is really making a difference to the appearance of the city centre.

"The increase in litter signals more people using Preston, which is surely an indication that the city is a very successful retail centre.

"Businesses are pleased with the council's investment, and visitors too are sure to notice a change in cleanliness in Preston."

Councillor John Swindells, executive member for environment and sustainability, added: "The council is committed to targeting the cleanliness of streets and open spaces throughout Preston to help achieve our vision of being the cleanest city in the North West.

"Local people have told us that the cleanliness of Preston's streets is something that really matters to them and so, by investing this money, we're targeting resources where they are needed most."