TIME is running out for landlords to clean up their act and get their properties in order - or face being fined up to £1,000.

Worcester City Council sent letters to six landlords in Teme and Avon Road, Tolladine, threatening further action if they don't clean up their properties, said Councillor Roger Berry.

"Before Christmas, we asked some of the residents to tidy up. There was a temporary improvement, but certain landlords haven't taken any action, so they will be served with notices under the Town and Country Planning Act," added Mr Berry, whose ward covers the troubled road.

Some houses in the road have broken furniture, bags of rubbish, and building waste cluttering their yards.

"There's a sting in the tail if they fail to comply - the council can start legal proceedings against them," he explained.

Paul O'Connor from the Worcester City Council confirmed the ''carrot'' part of the clean-up drive had ended with a degree of success, but new untidy landlords had been identified and were now in need of the stick.

"Landlords will be given 28 days notice smarten up the properties, or face legal action if the committee pass our reports," said senior planning officer, Mr O'Connor.

"We will formally issue the authorisations to the tenants after we have consulted land registry plans to make sure we are targeting the right people, and that our legal case is water-tight. We won't be hanging about," he added.

Another planning department officer, Andrew Hammond, said a lot more than six reports pointing the finger at landlords and tenants would be tabled at the city council's next planning committee meeting on Thursday, February 17.

If landlords fail to comply and magistrates believe the council is being reasonable, the court could impose fines up to £1,000.

The move to threaten prosecution comes after several months and two meetings between council department bosses, the police and other agencies to agree a course of action to lick the area into shape.