Local shopping centres will be targeted in the clean-up

Councillors are meeting on Wednesday to decide whether they can justify doubling the current level of expenditure on the problem.

Sheffield City Council would use the money to clean-up public areas such as shopping centres, put more dog litter bins on the streets and fund legal action against offenders.

Burngreave, Firth Park, Hillsborough, Walkley, Netherthorpe and Brightside will all be targeted during the first six months of the campaign.

Councillor Harry Harpham said the proposal was put forward after listening to public concerns.

He added: "We have devised this positive, yet affordable proposal to make a marked difference to the cleanliness of our city.

"The areas chosen have a mixture of private, council and student residential areas, which will provide useful information to estimate accurately the additional cost needed to achieve a city-wide standard in future years."