MORE needs to be done in Keighley to raise awareness of littering and the possible penalties, says a leading figure in the town.

Steve Seymour, chairman of KeighleyTown Centre Association and manager of the Airedale Shopping Centre, said there had been considerable success at tidying some areas.

But he said litter was still a problem.

He was speaking out after the Keighley News last week revealed that the number of fixed penalty notices issued for dumping litter in Keighley district had slumped.

Just 24 people have received tickets in more than two years, and only eight of those offenders were brought to book in the past 15 months.

And the figures – released by Bradford Council in response to a Freedom of Information request from the Keighley News – show there have been just two prosecutions, both resulting in the defendants being found guilty.

Mr Seymour said: "Everyone should take responsibility for their actions and for maintaining a clean and tidy environment.

"All forms of littering must be managed accordingly, and this sometimes means penalising repeat offenders.

"As a town, Keighley strives hard to try to educate and support people and groups and has had some real success in improving local areas, but every day I see people throw litter and cigarette waste, allow their dogs to foul the streets or feed pigeons with no regard or care for the environment or public health.

"These offenders must be brought to book but enforcement should be a last resort, and based on the figures it is. More needs to be done through awareness days or days of action to make people aware of the types of littering and penalties for the offences."