GLASGOW is turning up the heat on litter louts.

Since the council's £4million Clean Glasgow campaign was launched, more people have been caught discarding rubbish in just three weeks, with 110 shameless individuals and businesses made to pay the penalty for their actions.

But clean-up chiefs say the sharp rise in £50 fixed penalty notices was just the start.

And they're warning litter bugs their tough enforcement campaign is about to be stepped up.

In the coming weeks a new team of 32 uniformed officers will begin patrolling the streets with the power to issue penalties and even request Asbos for the worst offenders. You can join war on litter

COUNCIL bosses are urging more Glaswegians to get involved in keeping their neighbourhoods clean.

Since the Neighbourhood Charter was launched last month, 22 community-led clean ups have been arranged - though only five have taken place so far.

As part of a £4million Clean Glasgow campaign, special 20-strong council teams have been sprucing up every area of the city, but council chiefs say more local involvement is crucial.

Council leader Steven Purcell insisted that more people needed to get involved in a practical way.

He said: "We need as many volunteers as possible coming forward to take part in local clean-ups. This is still only the beginning for Clean Glasgow."

The campaign's hotline - 0800 027 7027 - has had more than 2500 calls, often from people wanting to know how they can get involved.

Elsewhere, 11 new mobile CCTV units are already gathering intelligence and preventing crime, while a new 28-strong anti-graffiti hit squad is responding to vandals more quickly.

It's been four weeks since council bosses declared war on the louts, fully supported by the Evening Times.

Radical initiatives, including a crackdown on offenders and clean- ups in every neighbourhood in Glasgow, aim to turn around the city's shameful record on litter.

Local communities are also being asked to play their part by cleaning up their own streets as part of the Neighbourhood Charter, which has already been launched in areas around the city.

More than half the 110 fines handed out between February 19 and March 9, were issued for city centre offences - with 71 given to businesses who illegally disposed of rubbish.

Smokers who thoughtlessly threw their butts on the ground were also targeted, with a total of 19 offenders fined. The same period last year saw 75 people fined.

And bosses say other aspects of the campaign are seeing positive results too.

More than 200 tonnes of rubbish - enough to fill 150 refuse trucks - have been collected since the campaign began, while nearly 2000 hours have been worked by council cleaners in a bid to spruce up the city.

Meanwhile in the city centre 200 new bins - complete with cigarette trays and collection hotlines printed on the side - are helping keep the streets tidy.

Glasgow City Council leader Steven Purcell said the initiative was already making a difference.

He said: "We're delighted with the impact Clean Glasgow has made on the streets of our city in under a month.

"The statistics speak for themselves.

"I'd like to thank the people of Glasgow for helping make Clean Glasgow a success and urge them to continue their backing of this campaign."