LITTER louts have come under fire in Worcester - with members of the public saying they want a hard-hitting crackdown to be extended.

As the Worcester News revealed on Saturday, a sudden blitz on people dropping rubbish has resulted in 83 culprits being handed £75 on-the-spot fines.

Most of the penalties, dished out by one city council worker who patrols the city centre, were for cigarette butts.

Scores of people have contacted this newspaper to back the council's tactic, with many saying more officials should be assigned to the task.

They say the city's environment would be greatly enhanced if more culprits were brought to the book.

Karen Todd, 45, of Ransome Avenue, Battenhall, said: "Parts of the city are a tip, it's a disgrace.

"All the litter issues in Worcester are created by people, I pity the vast majority who suffer because of the minority.

"This is the best thing I can remember the council doing in ages, all they need to do now is get more than one person doing it, and they'll fine loads more."

John Quint, aged 63, a bus driver of Bilford Road, said: "Cigarette ends are all over the place in the city centre.

"I'd be ashamed to drop it myself - I'd like to see these figures in a few months’ time, I expect they'd be able to fine hundreds of people quite easily."

Several readers also called for the level of fine to be increased, while others said the money from it should be used to prop up services like play area equipment.

Rob Smith, of Melbourne Street, Barbourne, said: "Your readers of a certain age may recollect an elderly character known locally as 'Butt Annie''.

"She would, as opposed to the anonymous enforcer, simply pick up discarded fag ends and then presumably recycle them, as she was rarely seen without a handmade cigarette dangling from her bottom lip.

"But the question is, with this new found enthusiasm to enforce the Environmental Protection Act 1990, will this litter prevention officer venture to other parts of our city handing out additional fixed penalty orders?"

He said dumped gas cylinders, old settees and "substances which are normally flushed down toilets" can be found around various parts of the city.

The council says as well as the fines which have all been levied since mid-October enforcement officers have investigated 33 abandoned vehicles and three cases of graffiti.

Meanwhile Cllr Jabba Riaz, the cabinet member who instigated the crackdown, says he will keep an eye on it.

"Often the council adopts policies and doesn't follow it through, this one is different," he said.