Children as young as 10 could be fined £75 for dropping litter after Telford & Wrekin Council backed plans to introduce higher penalty rates.

The fine has increased from £50, as the borough council attempts to clean up the town’s streets.

People who graffiti or put up fly-posters will also be hit with the same fixed penalty rate. The new measures were supported by cabinet members at a meeting last night.

Children will be eligible for a £75 fine although the council, which says it has a duty to help them develop a responsible outlook, will first give them a chance to change their behaviour and be monitored for six months.

After six months, if the youngster has not been involved with any other incidents, the case will be closed.

Council chief executive Steve Wellings, said: “I think this is about something that has been socially tolerated but is now totally unacceptable. People who drop litter or fly-tip are as anti-social, if not more so, as people who cause trouble through alcohol.

“For too long now this sort of thing has been tolerated. What this report is saying is we are not going to tolerate it anymore.”

Vic Tonks, of Telford & Wrekin People’s Association (Tawpa), said: “The problem is with getting young mothers to bring the children up not to drop litter.”