Sutton Council are targeting drivers who throw litter out of their car windows.

The council can now hit you with a fine of up to £100 for dumping your rubbish out of the window.

A change in the law now allows the registered owner of the vehicle to be fined regardless of who actually dropped the litter - and CCTV can be used to record number plates and track owners.

Jill Whitehead, chairwoman of the environment and neighbourhood committee, said: "We strive to be a clean, green borough and this will help us to achieve that."

"Hopefully, the prospect of being fined will persuade people not to drop litter in the first place."

London Councils, an organisation which represents the capital's 33 local authorities, pushed for the change in the law which came into effect on June 18.

A poll of AA members found that 58 per cent backed large fines and community sentences for litter louts and 93 per cent agreed that litter spoilt local communities and gave a bad impression of Britain to visitors.

Counsellor Tony Shields, Sutton South Ward spokesman for the Conservatives on environment and neighbourhoods, said: "People who throw their rubbish out of the car window deserve a fine, I welcome the government's devolvement of power to local authorities.

"Litter louts beware."