LAZY fast-food customers who throw litter from the car window are being targeted across the district.

Tendring Council leader Neil Stock is on a mission to clampdown on the practice, which he called “abhorrent and unacceptable” in a recent cabinet meeting.

Littering currently carries a maximum fine of £80, but a successful prosecution is dependent on a witness seeing and reporting the crime.

Mr Stock urged residents to keep their eyes out for wrongdoers.

He said: “We will prosecute them as a council. Magistrates can be reluctant to impose stringent enough sentences.

“I’d like to encourage and urge anyone to report someone they see doing it.”

A meeting with senior figures from local McDonald’s restaurants is also being planned given the amount of its packaging found strewn across carriageways, including in Little Bromley.

This is likely to include the franchise owner for the Colchester Road, in Weeley, branch.

Mr Stock said: “We can’t blame them for customer behaviour, but it has their branding on it.

“The issue is being raised right across the patch. Not all the rubbish comes from McDonald’s, but an appreciable amount of it.”

However, Ukip councillor Mark Stephenson disagreed with naming and shaming the outlet.

He said: “Targeting just McDonald’s is a mistake on our parts.

"Other fast food chains in Clacton have the same problems.

“Bins in laybys within Clacton are always full, we should be looking at that.

“I admire the sentiment but we shouldn’t be singling out McDonalds.”