PEOPLE face being fined for littering as councils fight to keep the streets clean of cigarette butts when the new smoking ban comes into force.

The ban in England starts on Sunday and council chiefs hope that a similar situation to Scotland, where only 20 people have been given fixed penalty notices for breaking the new law, will prevail.

From July 1, anyone smoking where they shouldn't could be slapped with a £50 fixed penalty notice or even taken to court and fined up to £200.

Business owners or managers who fail to prevent someone smoking can be prosecuted and fined up to £2,500.

They can also be given a fixed penalty notice of £200 or fined up to £1,000 in court for failing to display the correct no smoking signs.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has also warned people that anyone found dropping smoking-related litter on the public highway or in public open space, could be liable for a fixed penalty notice of £75.

Signs are being put up around Blackburn and Darwen town centres to remind people not to drop cigarette butts and the council will target any hot spot' problems as they arise with existing resources and enforcement.

Coun John Slater, executive member for citizens and consumer rights, said: "We hope smokers will respect the law, which is designed to protect people from the harmful effects of second hand smoke.

"We don't want to prosecute people and make martyrs of them, but we have the powers and will take action where there is any deliberate or blatant flouting of the law."

If a business is found to be in breach of new regulations environmental health and trading standards officers will be empowered to hand out fines.

In the case of individuals the ability to hand out on the spot fines will fall to police and community support officers.

The government has set up a national hotline for people to report breaches of the law.

The number is 0800 587 166 7 and information will be passed to local councils to take action.

Breaches of the law can also be reported to Blackburn with Darwen Council on 01254 222544.