HUNDREDS of city residents and businesses were fined last year for dumping rubbish on the street.

New figures from the city council show a total of 838 fixed penalty notices were issued to citizens and companies operating in every ward in the city.

During last year, the council issued fixed penalty fines for littering totalling more than £45,500.

The city centre, which was the worst area for litter, was hit with more than 210 fines with the vast majority of the offenders businesses.

Second worst on the fixed penalty league table was Southside Central where 161 were handed out followed by Govan where 114 offenders were targeted.

Fines of £80 are given to businesses for minor issues such as overflowing bins and to householders who dump black rubbish bags on the street.

Flytipping is regarded as more serious and attracts a penalty of £200 for businesses which leave larger amounts of material away from the company and for householders for offences like leaving a bathroom suite in a lane.

Notices are also served on private land owners if there is an accumulation of refuse in communal back courts.

Councillor Mhairi Hunter, who represents Southside Central, said the problem of dumped litter is particularly bad in areas with a high number of private landlords.

She added: "In most parts of the city where flytipping is a problem it will be in areas where there is a high concentration of privately let flats.

"It is really frustrating, particularly in Govanhill because there is a council recycling facility just up the road where people can take bulk items - but they don't and put them out on the street.

"Resident see other people put stuff out on the pavement and think that is what they are meant to do.

"In Govanhill there is an issue of people bringing things into the area and dumping them because they know there is a high level of flytipping.

"It is difficult for the council because it needs to have a level of information before it can take action and most of it happens at night."

Mrs Hunter believes more prosecutions would help alleviate the problem of people dumping rubbish and flytipping.

She said: "Education takes you so far but we also need the carrot and stick."

A council spokeswoman said businesses are legally obliged to properly dispose of their waste.

She added: "Our environmental health staff are working across the city to enforce the relevant legislation and take action against any person caught flytipping or any business found to be non-compliant or operating without an appropriate waste contract in place."