Illegal flyposters in west Oxfordshire are being targeted for court action.

West Oxfordshire District Council has launched a new crackdown backed up by a hit squad. The team has been set up with a £70,000 fund to tackle flyposting and illegal dumping of rubbish.

Measures to catch offenders were beefed up at a meeting of the council's cabinet.

Cabinet leader Cllr Barry Norton said: "We want to stop persistent offenders and we will take them to court to set an example."

The squad is charged with removing posters stuck to trees, lamposts and other street furniture, and is putting more emphasis on catching offenders.

The main culprits are firms advertising their products and events. Mr Norton said posters for charitable and community events would be exempt provided they were taken down within seven days.