WARDENS tasked with tackling the increasing problem of litter across St Helens have handed out 164 fines in less than a month.

It marks a crackdown on an issue which saw the council spend £1,759,713 last year cleaning up rubbish.

A council spokesman said cigarette butts seem to a common problem mainly in shopping areas and places where smokers tend to congregate.

Each fine is £75 although this is reduced to £50 if paid within 10 days.

Failure to pay the fine could result in a prosecution at St Helens Magistrates’ Court.

There have also been cases of some people giving false names and addresses to wardens which is an offence.

There was a dramatic demonstration of the litter problem in St Helens recently when a week’s worth measuring 8ft high was dumped outside the town hall.

Councillor Seve Gomez-Aspron cabinet member for the environment said: “The cost to clean up the litter comes out of your council tax so even if you don’t drop litter you still pick up the bill of those who do.

“It’s your money being thrown away. We are proud of St Helens and are committed to ensuring we all live in a healthy, safe and pleasant environment.”