BASINGSTOKE council is enforcing a zero-tolerance approach to littering as it bids to crack down on the issue.

During March, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is putting an extra focus on people who drop litter as part of its latest anti-social behaviour campaign.

Council community safety patrol officers will be stepping up patrols in known litter hotspots. They will be issuing fixed penalty tickets and giving residents advice on how to report litter issues. 

READ MORE: Basingstoke council funds The Anvil and The Haymarket refurbishment

Cllr Jenny Vaux, cabinet member for partnerships, said: “Most people dispose of their litter in a responsible way but there are still those who discard it on the streets without a thought about what will happen to it.

“The council takes a zero-tolerance approach to littering across the borough and this campaign aims to educate and, if necessary, take enforcement action against anyone who does not dispose of their litter considerately.

The campaign will tie in with the Great British Spring Clean, run by Keep Britain Tidy, which is taking place from Friday, March 17 until Sunday, April 2.

The council is also able to lend litter-picking equipment to people wishing to take part to help prevent the harmful impacts litter can also have on wild animals, ecological systems and aquatic environments. 

To report litter, go to basingstoke.gov.uk/report-litter.

If you're interested in taking part in the Great British Spring Clean, go to basingstoke.gov.uk/conservation-events.