At present, there are no restrictions on firms or individuals who wish to distribute leaflets, flyers and other printed material, and council officials say enough is enough.

Statistics to be presented to a meeting of Sheffield Council's licensing committee on Thursday show that in one week more than 20,000 leaflets were given out in Sheffield.

Officers say that 16 organisations were behind the distribution, with 90 people employed. They add that complaints about leaflet litter and distribution are increasing.

In a report to the committee officers said: "The city centre management team now receives at least one public complaint every single day by letter or by phone call.

"These complaints are specifically about the littering problem caused by the distribution of free literature and/or the aggressive issuing of it, when people simply want to be left alone."

The report goes on to say that the situation is clearly much worse following "night-time activities", particularly at weekends when accumulations of litter are "visually unacceptable".

Under its new scheme, the authority aims to cut dramatically the amount of leaflet litter by making unauthorised distribution an offence under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.

Companies and organisations that wish to give out free literature in the city centre will be forced to apply for a permit and the more permits required the more it will cost.

A monthly permit will cost £50 and annual permits will cost £75 for the first, £100 for the second, £150 for the third and £175 for each additional permit.Anyone caught handing out flyers without a permit will be issued with a £75 fixed penalty notice.

All companies applying for permits must have a Sheffield address.