FIXED penalty tickets for littering Ipswich town centre have been issued - the first since the borough's first litter wardens were introduced at the end of last year.

FIXED penalty tickets for littering Ipswich town centre have been issued - the first since the borough's first litter wardens were introduced at the end of last year.

Tickets were issued to two people who refused to pick up rubbish they had dropped after challenged by litter wardens in the town centre.

The penalties were handed out as borough officials upped the stakes in the battle to clean up the town centre.

Council environment spokeswoman Inga Lockington said: “These fines are not major in themselves but they should get the message across that this kind of behaviour is unacceptable.

“We will not tolerate people who just throw down their rubbish.”

The town's campaign against litter was especially targeted at drivers which was why notices had gone up on the entrances to Ipswich.

Mrs Lockington said: “We don't want anyone to throw anything out of windows, but especially not plastic, paper, or cigarette butts.

“Just look at the side of the road near traffic lights - it can be an incredible mess and we have to send out our street cleaners to clear up afterwards.”

People who drop litter can now be expected to be handed a £50 fixed penalty fine. The ticket will be handed out straight away with no warning first.

And litter wardens patrol at all hours - not just during normal working hours.

Ipswich's crackdown comes after a motorist driving between Clacton and Colchester was given fixed penalty tickets by two authorities after he threw out a bag of chips which landed in both Colchester and Tendring council areas.