PEOPLE in Worcester say electronic boards displaying the words 'Don't be a Tosspot' would not be the way they'd wage war over litter - but have suggested a series of other possible slogans.

As your Worcester News revealed on Saturday, the city council's Conservative leadership is exploring using the highways boards to beam out an anti-littering message.

The idea has come from Councillor Andy Roberts, the cabinet member for cleaner and greener, who has taken Keep Britain Tidy's hard-hitting 'Don't be a Tosser' campaign and called for a toned-down alternative which people might find less offensive.

After we asked for reaction every single respondent backed the use of the matrix boards to tackle litter, but all of them said the word 'tosspot' is not needed.

Reader John Huntley, who sent in a written suggestion, said: "I find 'don't be a tosspot' quite offensive.

"My suggestion as an alternative is 'don't be a litterbugger'."

Another writer, who asked to be anonymous, said: "I think you will find a fair few people, including me, will find the word tosspot offensive.

"Signs such as this won't make the flytippers think any more carefully in my view.

"If anything will work at all with such ignorant and selfish people, it might be something to make them think about any real consequences to themselves, such as enforceable penalties - preferably affecting their pockets and their liberty."

Another city resident, reader John Allcott, 51, of Warndon, said: "You need to find a word you can explain easily to kids, otherwise it just won't work.

"How about 'please don't litter' or even better 'let's keep Worcester clean', it's simple and would encourage people to have pride."

Fellow writer Ken Ward, 44, of Beech Avenue, off Droitwich Road, said: "The idea of using those boards in this way, is very good as I find them pretty useless for roadworks - people can see what's going on without needing to be told.

"I suspect most people wouldn't go for 'tosspot' for many reasons - I could be wrong but why not 'we're after litter louts' or '£80 fine for littering'.

"If you tell people it'll cost them, a fair few ignorants wouldn't do it, would they."

Another fellow email writer said the word 'tosspot' was "ideal as everyone understands it", and added that it should be accompanied by threats of a fine.

Cllr Roberts has contacted politicians at Worcestershire County Council, which owns the electronic boards, to see what they think about the idea.

* Have you got any more suggestions? Keep them coming by emailing te@worcesternews.co.uk.