Community wardens who patrol four housing estates in Weston-super-Mare could soon be able to hand out fines to people who drop litter.

The two wardens, employed by North Somerset Housing, are to be given new powers under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act, which will allow them to issue fixed penalty notices of £75.

Offences for which fines will be able to be handed out for include dropping litter and fly posting.

Anyone found daubing graffiti on property could also get a fine along with people who allow their dogs to foul without cleaning it up.

Penalty notices will be handed to people flouting dog exclusion zones or those who fail to keep their pets on a lead in areas where it is designated to do so.

Currently the wardens, who are based on the Bournville, Oldmixon, Coronation and Potteries estates, have little powers to deal with anti social behaviour.

Instead they work with residents on community projects to improve areas and quality of life on the estates.

The wardens, who have been working on the estates for the past year, have now been trained on the new powers they will get under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act.

North Somerset Council has the power to authorise for the wardens to hand out the fines and is due to rubber stamp the move later this month.

North Somerset Housing spokeswoman Jo Harper said: "Up until now, the wardens have not had the authority to issue fixed penalty tickets.

"However, they have been working proactively with the local communities in Weston-super-Mare to improve the area and educate them about the benefits of caring for and protecting their environment.

"This new legislation will give them the power, if necessary, to hand out fines to people seen committing anti social offences, such as dropping litter.

"People need to be aware that if they do drop litter or deface buildings with graffiti and are spotted by our wardens, they now risk receiving a fixed penalty fine."

Mrs Harper said there were no plans to expand the scheme and appoint community wardens in other areas of the district.

North Somerset Council spokesman Richard Turner, said: "A decision on whether to grant permission to allow the wardens to have the powers to issue fixed penalty notices is due to be taken by the council's executive member for the environment later this month.

"The council already has officers, including the ranger service staff, who have powers to issue fixed penalty notices to anyone who is behaving in contravention of the Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act."