ENFORCEMENT officers’ patrols near a petrol station plagued by youngsters littering will continue after complaints were made about their behaviour.

It was claimed that pupils from Outwood Academy Carlton were dropping bottles and wrappers having stopped off at The Co-operative’s petrol station, on Carlton Road, on their way home from school.

The area’s local PACT meeting, which is chaired by Barnsley Council and South Yorkshire Police representatives, was urged to ask officers from Kingdom, the enforcement firm in charge of patrolling the location, to step in to tidy up the main road’s appearance.

A Kingdom spokesman said: “A series of complaints regarding littering were received. Officers specifically targeted the location, and further intelligence was received from local community meetings.

“The petrol station’s shop was being used by local young people walking to and from school, who failed to dispose of their litter responsibly.

“Kingdom made this a designated hotspot and on particular days patrolled the area both in plain clothes and uniform. Stickers were used to advise not to drop litter.”

Nine fixed-penalty notices have so far been issued following officers’ intervention, while residents who complained about the problem will receive an update on the initiative at the area’s next PACT meeting, which will be held at The Grove, Royston, on Tuesday at 10am.

“The intervention was well received and further intelligence was gathered,” the spokesman added. “Staff from the garage were also approached and asked if advice could be given especially to the young people. The response was positive.”