NUISANCE traders could soon be stopped from touting their products on the streets of Preston city centre

The council is looking at introducing a new bylaw to control unlicensed selling, including flyer distributors.

They hope the move will help clean up the litter left when leaflets are dropped, and stop people being harassed.

Carl Speight, city centre manager, said: "It isn't a case of eliminating the activities. It is a case of being able to efficiently manage them. We are just really trying to stop annoyance.

"Where people are obstructing or interfering with people going about their business we want to be able to make sure that it isn't an off-putting experience being around the city centre."

If the legislation gets the green light, unwanted traders could be moved on by the council's city centre wardens. And touts who don't toe the line could face police action.

One street trader on Friargate, who wished not to be named, said legitimate traders were being affected by the litter left by touts handing out flyers and 'chasing' the public with clipboards.

The 60-year-old said: "The only thing they do is cause litter, because nine out of ten people come out of shops and sling the leaflets."

The council are hoping to introduce the bylaw in a matter of months after looking at a similar scheme operated in Liverpool.

Adrian Philips, assistant director of cleansing for Preston City Council, said: "At the moment we are looking at taking a report to council in June.

"If it is agreed there is a one month formal consultation period and potentially by the end of the summer we could have it in force."