MORE than 70 people have been fined and nine taken to court in the last nine months for town centre littering.

The figures were revealed as Bolton Council geared up for a renewed offensive on litter-droppers through “a combination of education and enforcement”.

The authority spends £2.8 million a year on street cleaning, but said its education and enforcement team is trying to reduce the figure by encouraging residents to be responsible for their own rubbish.

News of the crackdown follows the case of a woman who was given a £75 fine for giving a bit of her pastie to a pigeon in Bolton town centre — a punishment which was later cancelled by the council.

Teams are visiting schools and community groups to talk about the dangers of fly tipping and littering, and also encouraging them to carry out litter picks.

The authority said more than 120 litter-picking sessions involving more than 3,500 volunteers have taken place since 2011.

As well as trying to educate people the council said it has a policy of fining offenders up to £75. Those who do refuse to pay the fine are taken to court.

It said more than 70 fixed- penalty notices have been handed out in the town centre over the last seven months to people who have been caught dropping litter on the ground.

Nine people have been taken to court for refusal to pay and were given higher fines of £100 to £350.

Cllr Nick Peel, executive cabinet member for the environment, said: “People should realise we are fining people for littering offences when it is necessary, and should be assured that people are being fined and taken to court as a result.”