Wrexham Council has served notice on its contract with a controversial litter enforcement firm.

The authority was the last in north Wales to use Kingdom Services to hand out £75 fixed penalty notices for littering and dog fouling.

Leading councillors have come under increasing pressure to terminate the arrangement following a public protest in the town against the company's alleged 'heavy handed' tactics.

In September a cross-party group of backbench politicians backed plans to stop using Kingdom and consider providing environmental enforcement jointly with other north Wales councils.

During that meeting, Cllr David A Bithell, lead member for environment warned that bringing the service back in-house would cause financial problems.

However, the council has now confirmed it has served three months' notice on the firm as it is understood that no fines were issued in August and September.

Plaid Cymru councillor Marc Jones, who headed up a campaign for the company to stop operating in Wrexham, said the decision was 'long overdue'.

He said: “Kingdom did not ensure our streets were cleaner, they did not tackle dog fouling or flytipping.

“Since July the company has all but vanished - raising questions about how this contract was managed.

“Plaid Cymru pushed for the executive board to get rid of this company in July so we’re glad they finally listened to sense.

“The challenge now is to create an in-house service or work with other councils to make sure our streets are cleaner.

“Today’s executive board agreed to set up a new bailiff service in house and a separate litter enforcement team would be no different in terms of risk and potential income generation.”

Wrexham Council said it would enter into discussions with Flintshire Council to discuss providing a joint service following the decision.

The authority's contract with Kingdom will end on 28 December 2018.

In an information report to councillors, Lawrence Isted, head of environment, said officers had written to the company to confirm the termination.

He said: "Kingdom have acknowledged receipt and the necessary arrangements are now commencing to arrange closedown of the systems and processes and new enforcement activity has ceased.

"Officers are now examining options for the future of environmental enforcement in Wrexham.

"This will include an examination of all opportunities, including collaboration.

"It should be noted that the existing environmental enforcement contract was provided at nil costs to the council.

"Although, every opportunity will be examined to deliver alternative services at nil or low costs, it is envisaged that provision of revised enforcement service will place a pressure on already stretched departmental and corporate budgets."

An update will be brought to councillors on the future of the service in early 2019.

But Mr Isted warned that environmental enforcement in Wrexham would be 'very limited' in the meantime.