Riga- Authorities in Latvia have launched a novel incentive scheme for police in a bid to tackle the annual scourge of burning grass.

Officers who apprehend a fire starter will be entitled to an extra day's paid holiday, Interior Minister Linda Murniece told reporters Thursday.

"We are unable to pay bonuses, but we have promised a paid day off in addition to the holiday allowance for each officer who catches a burner of old grass," the minister said.

Every Spring brings plumes of choking smoke across the otherwise idyllic Latvian countryside as landowners burn off the remains of last year's grass in order to encourage fresh growth.

Fires often get out of control, causing considerably more damage than originally intended and stretching the fire service's resources. As a result the practice has been made illegal.

In future, grass burners will be made to pay the costs of putting the blazes out, Murniece added.

With the Latvian economy in a steep decline, police officers have been among public employees hit with big wage cuts and spending on government information campaigns has been slashed.

"Grass burning is a kind of Latvian tradition, but this year the government will not be able to undertake an advertising campaign telling people not to burn our land, so we chose this more radical and swift move," an interior ministry spokesman told the German Press Agency dpa.

Now, provided they have got their handcuffs onto at least one grass arsonist, police officers will be able to sit outside enjoying the Baltic sun for an extra day - provided the neighbours aren't burning off their old grass.  (dpa)