ENVIRONMENT officers have begun a crackdown on young litter louts in Todmorden.

Calderdale Council staff have been to Todmorden High School because of the increasing amount of rubbish being thrown around local streets.

Throughout the district, letters have been sent to parents, urging them to persuade their children to stop becoming litter louts.

Peter Ramsdale, Calderdale Council's head of environmental services, said that after Todmorden and the other schools had been visited, patrols would be in the area, and if there was no improvement action, including fines, would be taken.

He said: "There is a particular problem of litter around schools and people who live there complain.

"We looked to see what we could really do and we have decided to put together this package, with the support of the schools, and will visit all secondary schools and explain the problem."