Three drivers fined £450 as Harborough council cracks down on litter louts

The flagrant eco-offenders were each handed £150 fixed penalty notices.

They ended up out of pocket after being spotted hurling cigarettes and food out of their vehicles by patrolling council officers.

Two of the culprits were nabbed helping to wreck the local environment in Market Harborough while the third was caught red-handed in Lutterworth.

The three motorists were trapped and dealt with weeks after Harborough District Council launched a crackdown on litterbugs in November.

Cllr Phil King, the council’s leader, said: “We’ve had enough and the people of Harborough have had enough.

“We won’t put up with litter louts and flytippers treating our fantastic district as one giant dump.”

He added: “Our message to those responsible is simple – we are watching you and we will catch you.

“You won’t get away with ruining our beautiful district and you will be punished.

“Throwing rubbish out of cars or discarding trash as you walk along is lazy, inexcusable and horrible.

“It’s dangerous and it has a serious impact on our environment, our towns and villages, our countryside and our eco-systems.

“And it won’t be tolerated.”

People are being warned that it’s the registered owner who will be fined if anyone throws rubbish out of their motor.

Cllr King is calling on eye-witnesses to report any flytipping incidents or rubbish offences and email any dashcam footage to the council at [email protected]

The local authority has also dished out 12 fixed penalty notices of £400 since last April after a catalogue of illegal flytipping.