Bradford Council has begun a crackdown on the city's worst "grot spots".

Enforcement officers from its cleansing team have spent a week patrolling areas in Manningham and Girlington worst affected by litter, including Oak Lane, Whetley Hill, Duckworth Lane, Toller Lane and White Abbey Road.

They were among the "grot spots" nominated by residents who took part in a Council survey on littering in the district.

Responses from the 6,000 households who replied found the worst area in the city was Leeds Road, followed by Oak Lane and Whetley Hill.

The latest patrols targeted businesses which could create rubbish nearby, such as takeaways, shops selling lottery tickets or bank cash machines which issue receipts. They will now be sent warning letters.

The letters say the Council intends to serve notice on the businesses under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and ask owners to keep their area clean. They are also advised they can talk to Council cleansing staff about how to do so.

After receiving a letter, businesses will have 21 days to clean up. If they fail to do so, the Council can serve a notice and then prosecute them for not complying.

The maximum fine for non-compliance is £2,500. The Council's executive member for the environment, Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, said: "We have recently introduced a new system of sweeping the streets which means mechanical sweepers are out from very early in the morning until late at night on major routes in the city.

"But this kind of extra effort to clean up the district will be wasted if people won't work with us. I believe we have come to the point where we must take firm action to improve the city's reputation and if that means taking businesses to court, we'll do it."

She said the response to the challenge for residents to name their top eyesores showed people were very concerned about the state of those areas.

The survey, the largest Council poll of its kind, involved 200,000 homes being sent a newspaper called Community Pride and asked to fill in an attached card.

As well as asking for the worst fly-tipping spots in the district, the card also asked for their opinions on recycling and the Council's refuse collection service.

Bradford Council has started the drive to clean up the city as part of its bid to become European Capital of Culture.