Wardens are helping to reduce litter on the streets

The borough council's wardens are out in force this weekend and are authorised to issue �50 fixed penalty notices for a range of offences.

They will target people dropping litter, including matches, cigarette ends and chewing gum, and dog owners who allow their pets to foul streets.

People who receive a fixed penalty notice have 14 days to pay.

Wardens will also patrol known litter hotspots, including back lanes near the town centre, and they will contact the parents of any youngsters aged under 17 caught littering.

Chris McEwan, Darlington's cabinet member for community protection, said: "The council's anti-litter campaign is having a huge impact on the reduction of litter across the borough.

"However, many people still find it acceptable to throw their litter on our streets and just expect the council to pick up after them.

"The more we can do to get the message across, the more we can do to reduce littering and help keep the borough clean and tidy".