The number of people being fined for dropping rubbish in the streets of Carlisle has almost doubled in the last year, with the city council stepping up its crackdown on litter bugs.

In the last year, 52 people have been issued with fixed penalty notices for dropping litter within the city’s limits - up from just 28 the year before.

The council also issued nine fines for dog fouling this year. This was down from 17 the year before.

Hugh McDevitt, who represents Denton Holme on the city council, urged people to inform officials about anyone they see dropping litter or letting their dog foul.

"It's the only way we will get Carlisle as a clean city," he said.

"We are working full time on the job and our teams have to cover an area from Brampton and Longtown to Carlisle.

"We need that type of information about where it's happening a lot."

Mr McDevitt added that he was helping to pioneer a new scheme making dog fouling bags available to people in Denton Holme.

The push to rid the city of litter has come from Carlisle City Council’s Keep Carlisle Clean initiative, which has been running since 2012.

It was formerly known as Clean Carlisle.

The authority has also ramped up its fight against fly tippers, with seven fines being issued in the last year after new powers were given to local councils.

The council's street scene and enforcement team say they will continue to "make the best use of intelligence" so they can target resources to litter dropping, fly tipping and dog fouling hotspots.

Technology such as CCTV is another weapon in tackling the problem.

A report prepared for the council's environment and economy overview and scrutiny panel states: “Our mobile CCTV continues to be deployed to hot-spot locations and together with the new signage has contributed to a dramatic reduction in fly-tipping in key areas.

"Further cameras and additional signs are being purchased as part of our new approach to tackling ‘enviro-crime’.”

Officials will also be campaigning to make the public more aware of the problems, including working alongside schools.

But they say that, where necessary, taking "robust enforcement action" and pursuing those responsible through the courts is something they are willing to do.

One person who knows the trouble litter can cause is Anne Williams, chairman of Friends of Rickerby Park.

The Carlisle park is one of the city’s largest, attracting scores of dog walkers and residents every day.

Mrs Williams told The Cumberland News: “The group holds a Make a Difference Day on the second Saturday of every month, we usually meet at Eden Bridge Gardens.

"As part of that day there is always some of us doing litter picking.

"Unfortunately, it’s an ongoing problem.

“The council is taking it seriously and they have a new initiative on the dog fouling front by trialling new dog poo bag dispensers, they have one in Rickerby Park.

"So if you’re out and caught short without one then there should be some there.”

* Mr McDevitt is standing in the forthcoming Cumbria County Council elections in the Denton Holme ward as a Labour candidate.

The others standing are: Syed Ali (Conservative), Neil Boothman (Green) and Kerryanne Wilde (UKIP).