City of York Council has been handed new powers to clampdown on dog-fouling, graffiti, litter, fly-posting and night-time noise.

The Government's Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill, which has now been granted Royal Assent, will bolster the range of antisocial offences which can be punished by on-the-spot fines.

Supporters say the new law - dubbed the "Anti-Yob Bill" - will make York a "cleaner, safer, greener" place. City councillors must now decide on the exact offences to attract the fines, which could include dumping wrecked cars and adorning walls and buildings with fly posters.

Guidelines produced by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) suggest penalties of between £50 and £75 for litter, dog fouling and graffiti.

York is already leading the way in cracking down on the problem of graffiti in the historic city. The Turn In A Tagger campaign - which is backed by the Evening Press - is aimed at snaring spray-can yobs responsible for blighting York.

Rewards of up to £1,000 are available to anyone able to identify the vandals behind a string of attacks in some of York's most beautiful areas.

The campaign has been praised by government supremos leading the fight against antisocial behaviour in Britain.

The initiative was flagged up as a model case study during a Home Office antisocial behaviour workshop in Sheffield in March.

Andrew Waller, City of York Council's environment chief, said the council would be using the new powers to take York Pride "even further".

He said the new Act gave the authority greater powers - such as being able to fine offenders for the full costs of cleaning up.

"This Act gives us the powers that we have been wanting for quite a while," he said.

"We have worked to the full extent of the powers that we have and now we can take York Pride even further."

Coun Waller said he was particularly pleased that the new Act designated gum dropping as a litter offence.

Updated: 10:03 Tuesday, April 12, 2005