ENFORCEMENT officers are set to be on patrol this weekend to crackdown on littering and anti-social behaviour ahead of the Colchester Christmas market.

A team of six from enforcement company Artemis - dubbed the litter police - will be in Colchester between 6pm and 3am on Friday and Saturday after Colchester Council called in their services again.

Anyone who breaches the Public Space Protection Order will be issued with a £100 fixed penalty notice.

This is the fifth in a series of enforcement events scheduled for the next few months.

Colchester Council’s waste and environment boss Martin Goss (Lib Dem) said it was important the town centre was looking its best ahead of Sunday’s Christmas market.

He said: “We are anticipating thousands of visitors to Colchester this weekend, as the festive celebrations get underway and shoppers flock to our shops and Christmas market.

“To ensure they can all enjoy the weekend to the full in a safe, welcoming and clean environment, we need to keep up the pressure on littering and anti-social behaviour.”

In the town centre, fixed penalty notices can be issued for offences including drinking alcohol, taking drugs or urinating in public places, begging for money, fly-posting and causing disturbance or intimidation.