LITTERBUGS in Ealing are getting away with dirtying the streets after figures show almost 80 per cent of fines issued went unpaid.

Only 124 fixed penalty notices for littering were paid from the 552 issued by Ealing Council last year.

But remarkably, the figures from the Department For Rural Affairs showed the council failed to take any further legal action against those who refused to pay.

Darren Johnson, a Green Party member of the London Assembly, said: "Ealing is not taking littering seriously enough. In Southwark nearly 2,000 fines were issued last year, while in the Royal London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea the repayment rate of fixed penalties issued reached 97 per cent.

"The fixed penalty notices were introduced to help clean up London's streets. If they are not seen through they cannot possibly have this effect.

"Fast food litter has increased by 450 per cent over the last four years. We have to work together to keep London clean. Too many people are simply getting away with it. We need both the fast food outlets and individuals to take responsibility."

Mr Johnson said Ealing had taken "little interest" in the non-payment of fixed penalty notices.

Leader of the council, Cllr Jason Stacey, blamed the previous Labour leadership for the failings.

He told the Ealing Times: "It is true that under the previous Labour administration clearing the streets of litter was not a high priority.

"Since taking office in May the new administration has pumped millions of extra investment into environmental services.

"We've tightened up our procedures so we can use our powers to the full and take a much tougher action against offenders."

He added: "The changes are starting to bear fruit, and I am confident people will see a change over the next six months."