ROUND-the-clock patrols are being launched by council officers to catch people sticking up illegal posters in Blackburn and Darwen.

New by-laws have been brought in by Blackburn with Darwen Council, meaning people caught daubing graffiti, dropping litter or sticking up posters - a practice known as fly-posting - will get £50 fines.

If they don't pay, offenders will be brought before magistrates where fines can rise to £1,000.

Most East Lancashire boroughs have on-the-spot fines for littering, but Blackburn with Darwen is the first to dispatch officers at night to catch people fly-posting.

The powers will initially be used in Blackburn and Darwen town centres, where the problems are felt to be most acute.

Fly-posters often advertise nightclub events, gigs or album releases. The rising number of events in the region has led to an increase in fly-posting, often on buildings already blighting the landscape because of their neglected state.

The posters often go up at night, so the council has decided to put environmental town rangers on 24-hour shift patterns to catch culprits.

Peter Hunt, the council's director of direct services, said: "People caught will be approached by the officers who will ask them to pick up the litter, clean up the graffiti or remove the poster.

"If they fail to do so, they will be asked for their details and a fixed penalty notice will be sent through the post. There is a right of appeal, but non-payment will lead to legal proceedings which upon conviction can lead to a £1,000 fine.

"Police will accompany officers at the start. The operating hours of the rangers is varied to ensure we cover particularly the town centres in the first instance, but to ensure we do not become predictable in our patrolling habits."

But one local promoter, who has organised events across East Lancashire, said: "This has been tried elsewhere and hasn't worked. People know not to stick them up on buildings being used, and many people coming to our events say they look out for the posters. They are a service and more colourful than some old building."