A CAMPAIGN to clean up Kent and declare war on flytippers and litter louts has been launched with a plea to residents across the county to get involved.

Kent County Council, police, magistrates, district and parish councils, the Environment Agency and many others are backing the latest drive.

The campaign, The Great Kent Clean Up, launched at County Hall in Maidstone, aims to utilise every weapon at the disposal of the various agencies involved as well as the public.

KCC leader Cllr Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart (Con), said: "Kent is renowned as the Garden of England, with its unique countryside, traditional villages, historic towns and coast, a priceless environmental heritage which we taken pride in and must look after

"All of us must be involved as Kent residents, never dropping or leaving litter, reporting others and helping clean up the county. We must all help keep Kent an attractive place. Each of us has a stake, each of us must play a part."

Sir Sandy said the presence of police and magistrates at the launch was an important part of the campaign in bringing in tougher enforcement including court action and larger fines.

Kent Police deputy Chief Constable Jim Barker-McCardle told the launch that the cost of anti-social behaviour in Kent had been put at nearly £40 million to all the partner agencies concerned.

He said: "Waste crime and other visible signs of disorder perpetuate the fear of crime and only serve to make things worse.

"It generates demands on police resources and can lead to entrenched problems of anti-social behaviour. There is also a direct limk between abuse of the environment and crime - and for some people flytipping is big business."

Operation Cubit had successfully tackled the problem of unlicensed and abandoned cars in Kent and Medway and the scheme has been adopted as best practice by the Home Office.

The campaign is building up with a two-week spring clean involving hundreds of local and voluntary groups, ending on Monday May 31, followed by ongoing initiatives and a renewed autumn blitz.

People interested in getting a group together to clean up a local eyesores can contact The Great Kent Clean-Up by ringing 01622 605994 or by logging on to www. thegreatkentcleanup.co.uk

Anyone spotting flytippers is advised not to approach them but to note the type of vehicle and number place, descriptions and time before calling theirlocal council. If the waste looks hazardous, call the Environment Agency's 24-hour hotline on 0800 807060.