Litter louts cost a Black Country council’s taxpayers £2.7 million a year as 3,000 tonnes of rubbish and fly-tipped waste is removed, bosses say.

Wolverhampton City Council says single black bags, car boot loads or other items cost £29 to clear up while massive amounts dumped cost the taxpayer up to £1,000 to remove. Spokesman Tim Clark said: “The council wants a city we can all be proud to live and work in.”

He said this meant doing everything in their power to stop the streets being strewn with litter.

“This is something that residents tell us is a priority for them. We believe that robust action should be taken against people who drop litter, which can include prosecution where they fail to accept their responsibilities.”

Among places where most on-the-spot fines are given out is the entertainment complex at Bentley Bridge.

Fast food wrappers dropped at the Wednesfield entertainment complex from October to the middle of December saw, environmental services issue ninety £60 fixed penalty notices.

Notices, which offer culprits a way of avoiding a court case, were also given out at beauty spots including Tettenhall Pool.

Fly-tipping costs £100 to clean up each time and since last April more than 3,800 people called the council to report illegal dumping.

Shawbury Road, New Park Village, and Noose Lane, Willenhall, are particular hotspots. Only seventy warning letters were sent out and seven people prosecuted due to lack of evidence.

Fly-tippers were caught on camera dumping two tonnes of tarmac and concrete kerbstones on the roadside in Ball Lane, Coven Heath, near Wolverhampton, in February. Dozens of tyres were also recently dumped near Bridgnorth Road, Wolverhampton.