Helston’s worst offenders for leaving the town’s streets lined with litter could soon be hit with fines.

Specific addresses have been passed on to enforcement officers at Cornwall Council, who have the power to fine people that fail to cover their rubbish bags when they put them out for collection each week.

As a result, seagulls and other animals are ripping open the bags to scavenge for food - leaving a trail of litter running along the pavements and causing rubbish to blow into the town’s kennels historic kennels.

Town clerk Chris Dawson told council members: “There has been a focussed hit on certain areas of the town. These properties have received letters.

“The compliance officers were here two Wednesdays running and they have identified specific properties for a second week, and these addresses have been passed on to the enforcement officers.”

Councillor Miles Kenchington, who is also a Cornwall Council officer, said: “If these individuals are not taking appropriate action they will be fined.”

After hearing this, councillor John Boase withdrew his suggestion that the town council should offer seagull-proof sacks at a reduced rate to residents unable to own a dustbin or wheelie bin, due to where they lived - such as a flat - so as not to clash with the ongoing investigations.

These reusable bags, which are large enough to hold up to three large bin bags of rubbish, also keep out other animals such as foxes, and can already be bought by anyone from the town council office in the Guildhall, for £3.50.

Some councillors also volunteered to sell the bags in the foyers of the town’s supermarkets on a weekend, to make them accessible to people unable to get one during the working week. Mayor’s secretary Julia Chambers has similarly offered to sell them at one Helston Farmers’ Market.

Earlier Mr Boase had spoken of rubbish floating down the kennels, after being blown into the water from nearby pavements where bags had been ripped open. “I believe the kennels go straight to the Cober [River],” he said, pointing out that this would result in plastic environmental waste at a time when there is a major push to reduce this.

Councillor Mike Thomas said: “How people can live like that is totally acceptable. We are responsible for our own waste until it is taken by the waste collectors.”

Mr Boase said there was also a secondary problem, with in that some businesses were putting out their rubbish for the residential collections.