You'd better be on your best behaviour if you see these guys roaming the streets – they are a new look team to keep the borough clean, green and safe.

Swale council’s street wardens and park rangers have joined forces to create an environment warden squad.

There are seven of them and they have a new blue and orange uniform.

The merging of the two teams has saved the council £30,000 and the uniforms have cost £1,874.

Issues the wardens will be tackling include graffiti, untaxed and abandoned vehicles, fly-posting, fly-tipping, littering, dog fouling, anti-social behaviour and maintaining and inspecting parks and green spaces.

They will also undertake routine road checks together with Kent Police and hold surgeries around the borough for residents to voice any concerns they may have.

Principal environment warden Geraldine Chidley said: “We are itching to get going.

"We have worked very well as two teams and now we are joining forces we feel we will have a greater presence to tackle the issues that matter most to Swale residents.

“We are determined to keep Swale clean, green and safe and want to work with the public to achieve this goal.”

Talking about the new uniform, a council spokesman explained that the wardens had to have logos put on their shirts to show they were police accredited and able to issue fixed penalty notices.

He added: “Because the merger was hinted at in advance the council held out on providing new uniforms for the street wardens and park rangers, so effectively the money that was budgeted for replacement uniform was spent on the new uniform.

“We managed to retain the old uniform for the last year and didn’t spend the budget for new uniform and protective clothing.

“Instead this was put towards the new uniform, along with this year’s budget for new uniform and protective clothing.

“As the whole team have a new one, it should last the year with us not needing to spend the remainder of this year’s budget.”

To report environmental issues or concerns phone the council’s customer call centre on 01795 417850 or go online