On-the-spot fines will be dropped on litterbugs as Merton Council launches a crackdown on those found dirtying the borough’s streets.

A £75 penalty will be imposed on those caught out by a team of enforcement and police officers specifically on the look out for littering offences, with failure to pay up leading to the possibility of prosecution.

The programme started in Wimbledon town centre on Thursday. As part of a two-pronged approach, residents were reminded of their responsibility to take their waste home at a road-show set up in the piazza.

Merton Council cabinet member for environment and leisure services, Councillor David Simpson, said: "The aim of this programme is to first educate people about what constitutes litter and to highlight the potential £75 penalty anyone caught dropping litter would have to pay.

“We won't tolerate litter offences in Merton and work hard to keep our streets clean. This type of direct action is what a vast majority of people would want and expect us to do.”

Free bottles of water, fruit and cigarette stub pouches branded with an anti-littering message will be given to passers-by at each of the littering roadshows expected to come to Merton’s town centres throughout the spring.