LITTERBUGS are in for a shock if they drop rubbish in the town centre.A total of 39 litterbugs have been hit with the £50 penalty fines as part of a council drive to clean up the town centre.

LITTER bugs are in for a shock if they drop rubbish in the town centre.

A total of 39 litterbugs have been hit with the £50 penalty fines as part of a council drive to clean up the town centre.

Ipswich Borough Council's two litter enforcement officers have been scouring the streets in search of mess makers and have dished out fines to people dropping rubbish, cigarette butts and even chewing gum.

Council environment spokeswoman Inga Lockington said: “The campaign is certainly working.

“Once people hear about those that have been fined for dropping litter I think many will be more careful.

“We want to stop people littering altogether. It is not on.

“If the only way to teach people not to do it is to give them a fine then that is what we will do.”

The town's campaign against litter began last year when the council ran an awareness drive to highlight the fact that people dropping rubbish faced £50 fines.

This included visits to schools in the town to make sure children get into the right habit at a young age.

Litter enforcement officers began handing out fines in February and police community support officers have also got the power to issue the fixed penalty notices.

Council officer Glynis Wood, street care customer services team leader, said a number of fines were handed out for people dropping cigarette butts.

“People are taken by surprise that a cigarette butt is classed as litter,” she said.

“However anyone dropping one will get the same fine as for dropping other rubbish as they are equally unpleasant.”

WEBLINK: www.ipswich.gov.uk

Do you think the penalties against litter bugs are harsh enough? Should more fines be handed out? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk