More than 80 litterbugs in Oxford have been hit by on-the-spot fines in one week.

Oxford City Council has handed out £80 penalty notices to 86 people for dropping litter, throwing rubbish from a vehicle, fly-posting and graffiti.

City councillor John Tanner warned pedestrians to bin their rubbish or risk a fine as street wardens, Police Community Support Officers and environmental health officers continued to patrol the streets.

On Monday, we reported how 22-year-old Demetrios Samouris had been fined £80 for dropping a matchstick in Cornmarket.

Mr Tanner, the city council’s executive board member for a Cleaner, Greener City, said: “This is a huge number of fixed penalty notices.

“I hope this sends out a strong message to people that we will issue fines if people drop litter.

“There are 160 bins in the city centre and we want people to stop dropping litter and make the city centre a no-go area for litter, chewing gum and cigarette butts."

He added: “Our enforcement officers will be out again this week and I would remind the public to bin their litter, unless they want a fine.”

Litter in Oxford costs more than £1m to clean up every year.

Fines are £80, but they drop to £55 if paid within 14 days.

However, anyone failing to pay could face fines at magistrates court of up to £2,500.

Supt Andy Murray, Oxford commander for Thames Valley Police, said: “We are happy to contribute to the city council’s litter campaign with our PCSOs.

“All of our neighbourhood teams are currently running Operation Confidence, designed to tackle anti-social behaviour.

“Littering is part of unacceptable behaviour and police community support officers have been encouraged to use the full range of powers available to them.”

Oxfordshire County Council leader Keith Mitchell said: “Highways maintenance is the county council’s responsibility, but the city council has the role for street cleaning and we work very closely together.

“We are both committed to making the city centre as clean and green as possible as part of wider plans to transform the city centre and make it a better place for pedestrians.

“The majority of people take personal responsibility for their litter and put it in to the bin rather than dropping it on the floor.

“It would be marvellous if everyone could do that."