It seems Tunbridge Wells is one very clean and tidy town.

Contracted ‘litter police’ have stopped patrolling the streets as there is not enough fine money to make it viable.

Kingdom, contracted by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, began handing out £80 on the spot fines in 2014.

Gary Stevenson, head of housing, health and environment said: “Our street cleaning teams have noticed a difference in the amount of litter being dropped from when Kingdom began their operation.”

The company earned around 50% of revenue generated, with the council getting the rest.

Council cabinet papers show about £70,000 of fines were issued by the firm each year, earning it an estimated £35,000. Kingdom said this was not ‘economically viable’ as it is not enough to pay enforcement officers’ wages.

Penalty charges have been increased to £150 from this month - the maximum statutory amount permitted - and enforcement will now be the responsibility of the council’s three street scene officers, monitoring dog fouling and litter.