TWO of the nation's biggest fast food chains are getting to grips with litter in Weymouth.

Fast food requires a fast clean-up, so McDonald's and KFC - which have restaurants and drive-ins at the Jubilee retail park - are teaming up and backing the Mayor of Weymouth and Portland's litter-busting campaign.

Staff contacted mayor Doug Hollings and told him they wanted to do their bit.

A staggering 2.5 tons of litter is collected annually from the borough's streets and food packaging is one of the worst pollutants.

Rob Grimshaw, manager of McDonald's, said: "We have our own cleaning teams who go out regularly and collect rubbish from the area around the restaurant.

"In a new move, however, we are going to do the Swannery car par in conjunction with staff from KFC. The car park is cleaned by the council in the morning but we are going to give it an extra sweep later in the day.

"Unfortunately a lot of litter builds up by the bird reserve so we are going to give that area special attention."

Mr Grimshaw said McDonald's was happy to support the clean-up campaign and hopes staff can target more problem areas in the future.

Caroline Kenyon, manager of KFC, said: "We're in favour of keeping the area clean.

"The rubbish is not just fast food packaging but all kinds of stuff."

Mrs Kenyon lived in Germany for seven years and said the difference between the continent and the UK was staggering.

She said: "The streets are so clean abroad.

"If you are caught dropping litter it's a £30 fine. I saw a guy being pulled over for throwing a cigarette butt from his car. Stringent penalties may be the only way to prevent people from dropping their litter."

Councillor Hollings said he welcomed the companies' responsible approach to litter.

He added: "I am still concerned because it is clear that some of their customers drive over into the opposite car park and, having eaten their meal, they then discard the food cartons out of the car windows. From there it is often blown into the adjacent nature reserve.

"My view is that these are the inconsiderate people that our society has to get at to ensure that they alter their attitude and culture."

In reply to Caroline Kenyon's comments, Coun Hollings said: "Certainly experience from abroad suggests that heavy spot fines do have a salutary effect on such people's behaviour.

"But there are other measures that also need to be considered over the next few months so that come next May we can see if there is a consensus on the way ahead for Weymouth and Portland in seeking Government legislation for a whole host of anti-litter measures."