Government plans to force fast food outlets to agree to clean up litter they generate are being backed by a Bradford MP.

A voluntary code of practice aimed at reducing takeaway rubbish will target the fast food industry by encouraging responsible waste disposal and improve ways of dealing with the problem.

Consumer Minister, Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe, said: "I think we've all had enough of fast food wrappers and cartons littering our streets."

The new code aims to improve the cleanliness of public spaces and if introduced will ensure takeaways operate within the law.

Mr Sutcliffe said: "This code will be good news for the public, fast food operators and local authorities.

"Improving the quality of public spaces impacts directly on people's quality of life and the way they feel about their community.

"It will make a real difference to local neighbourhoods."

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, executive member for environment, also supported the proposal.

"Anything that assists the Council in banishing rubbish from Bradford's streets is welcomed," she said.

The proposals for the voluntary code coincide with the Telegraph & Argus Bin It for Bradford campaign.

The campaign encourages communities to take pride in their areas and tackle the problem of litter on the city's streets.

Now fast food operators, local authorities and enforcement agencies have until the end of January to give their views on the Government's code of best environmental practice for the fast food industry.

Fast food giant McDonalds is to test the code with a pilot scheme involving litter patrols, extra litter bins and anti-litter signs.

Jessica Sansom, the company's environmental manager, said: "As a responsible business operating in communities across the UK, we are always looking for ways to promote environmental practices.

"We are keen to support the programme."

But Councillor Ann Ozolins (Lib Dem, Idle) has argued that enforcement, penalties and education were needed to force fast food restaurants to act responsibly.

She said: "Voluntary codes have no teeth and the Council has to pick up the bill for fast food litter thrown in the street."

She said she would be writing to the Government to urge it to take tougher action.

Mr Sutcliffe said legislation was already in place to regulate most of the key elements of this voluntary code.

"But in the past three years only ten per cent of local authorities have issued a single street litter control notice on fast food outlets," he said.

He stressed that the aim was to develop a voluntary agreement between fast food operators and local authorities to reduce the incidence of fast food litter without extra costs to the industry or red-tape.