NEW bins in Gloucester city centre are part of a major clean-up project to tie in with the opening of the Quays development.

Around a dozen bins are dotted around the Gate streets and each one is equipped with space to stub out cigarettes.

Steve Morgan, the city council's Cabinet member for environment, has welcomed the additions.

He said: "We are being proactive in trying to make Gloucester more appealing.

"With the Quays opening soon, more people will be attracted into the city and it is important that it looks good.

"The bins are one measure to achieve this, and we have asked Enterprise to increase their cleaning regime."

Coun Morgan says a concern for cigarette butts littering the streets led to the installation of the bins.

"We needed somewhere for people to stub out their cigarette ends, otherwise they just blow around," he said.

"With the smoking ban in pubs, more people are smoking outside and unless the establishment has somewhere for the stubs to go, they just get thrown onto the street."

He is confident that people will use the bins.

"It is important to provide the bins, which look nice too, and the public do generally respond well to this kind of thing," said Coun Morgan.

Gloucester City Council leader Coun Paul James said cigarette butts were a problem that needed to be sorted out.

"Keeping the streets clean is an important part of ensuring Gloucester remains a pleasant shopping environment," he said.

"Cigarette butts have been a bigger problem since the smoking ban was introduced and these new bins are part of our response, along with strict enforcement.

"People have no excuse to drop cigarette ends and will risk a fine if they do."