LITTER-LOUTS could be given £80 fines when a team of council wardens starts patrolling Swindon's streets on Saturday, September 1.

The council's Environmental Improvement Team will be able to hand out fixed penalty notices to anyone spotted dropping rubbish, cigarette butts or chewing gum.

The team was out in force in the town centre yesterday to warn shoppers about what could happen.

Environmental health manager Richard Palacio and his team were joined by the town centre management team and town centre police community support officer Patch Swindle on their crack down on people making a mess of the town centre.

"Litter encourages rats and makes the place untidy and when places look untidy they can also become targets for crime, because people don't think they are being looked after," said Mr Palacio.

"If we see anyone dropping litter and walking away we will be talking to people and telling them not to do it.

"Then we'll be taking down their details and sending out penalty notices. We will also be taking photos of the people we stop.

"Then if they give false details, their pictures will be published on a section of the council website so we can track them down."

Mr Palacio explained that officers could be patrolling any part of the town and would be on duty from Saturday.

"There are some times when we expect there to be more littering, like in the evenings outside bars and near businesses at lunchtimes, so obviously those are times when we will be focusing our attention."

The team received a mixed response from the people stopped on Friday.

A 13-year-old boy was asked to pick up some chips he threw on the ground, because it could encourage rats and made the place look untidy.

The angry youngster told council officers: "Why don't you just poison them?"

However, most people confronted about dropping litter were embarrassed and apologetic.

Smokers stopped for throwing cigarette ends on the floor were given pouches so they could stub them out cleanly in future.

Trading standards officer Nick Bennett said: "It is just a case of changing people's attitudes.

"Most people know deep down they shouldn't be littering but don't really think before throwing a cigarette butt on the floor or spitting their gum out.

"Hopefully, it won't take long for the message to sink in that you shouldn't do it."

The council currently spends £3m keeping the streets clear of the 3,000 tons of rubbish dropped and fly-tipped every year.

All of the money raised through penalty notices will go back into projects to keep Swindon tidy and prevent crime and disorder.