Council chiefs have spent nearly £3,000 to create cartoon costumes for litter and road safety mascots.

Ashford Borough Council (ABC) unveiled its first mascot Sir Litternot in July 2014, and its second mascot Moreline the Wizhog made his first appearance at County Square last month.

The duo were designed in-house by a council worker in their own time, and are manned by members of the Town Centre Action Team (TCAT), parking wardens, and volunteers.

The cost of making the costumes – funded from Community Safety Partnership grants – has been revealed after a Freedom of Information Act request by the Kentish Express.

In total, the council paid £1,244 to Frenzy Creative in Manchester to make Sir Litternot.

The knight in green armour was part of a council strategy to curb litterbugs from blighting the town and was designed by council worker Mike Cook.

However, earlier this summer ABC leader Gerry Clarkson admitted that stronger enforcement was needed in the battle.

The council had not issued a single fine for litterbugs for over three years, prompting a new policy for £75 on-the-spot fines for those caught dropping trash.

Contractors Kingdom will be patrolling the town centre and other busy areas with powers to impose the fines, and expect to catch between 40 to 80 wrongdoers each week, starting in September.

Meanwhile the council has paid £1,700 to Jellyhead Studios in London to make Moreline the Wizhog.

Moreline is another character based around the legend of King Arthur, and will help to promote Kent County Council road safety initiatives.

"Moreline and Sir Litternot are not short-lived promotions, they are part of a long term commitment to education"- council spokesman

In particular he will support the KM’s Walk on Wednesday initiative, to encourage children and adults to leave the car at home for a regular journey such as a school run.

Moreline is set for his official launch next month, while Sir Litternot appeared at the Create Music Festival in Victoria Park on Saturday.

A council spokesman said the mascots have been well received by children, and are an effective way to get their message across.

The spokesman said: "Moreline and Sir Litternot are not short-lived promotions, they are a long term commitment to education."