A PRIVATE litter firm, made up of ex-cops and soldiers, and paid to keep Basildon's streets clean, has been dumped by Basildon Council.

The authority employed the services of XFor in April 2012 for a year-long trial.

Despite announcing that the four private litter wardens patrolling the borough would cost the council nothing, the authority ended up incurring a cost as many people issues with fines did not pay.

*Full story in Friday's Echo