LITTER louts will face on-the-spot fines of up to £150, almost double the current limit, under newly-announced council powers.

The Government has revealed that, from April next year, the maximum fixed penalty local authorities can hand out to people dropping litter or throwing rubbish from cars will rise from £80 to £150.

The minimum fine will increase from £50 to £65.

Bolton Town Hall will also be able to impose fines on the owners of vehicles from which litter was thrown, even if it was discarded by someone else.

Environment minister Therese Coffey said: “Littering blights our communities, spoils our countryside and taxpayers’ money is wasted cleaning it up.

“Throwing rubbish from a vehicle is just as unacceptable as dropping it in the street and we will tackle this anti-social behaviour by hitting litter louts in the pocket.”

Legislation will be introduced by the end of this year to bring in the proposals, subject to the approval of Parliament.