The council's neighbourhood services committee has agreed that the dozen community wardens - originally employed to help with crime reduction and public reassurance - should be able to hand out fixed penalty fines.

Until now, only the council's environmental health officers and two dog wardens are able to issue on-the-spot fixed penalty notices.

Angus convener of neighbourhood services, Councillor Jim Millar, said: "Anti social behaviour and environmental problems like litter, graffiti and dog-fouling are seen as a problem across Scotland and Angus is no exception.

"We want to enhance the successful role of the wardens by giving them powers to issue penalties, and hope that this will act as a deterrent to those who spoil our environment and show our communities, the vast majority who behave impeccably, that the council is listening to their concerns and is using the powers available to it to try to help."