Warning to smokers after litterbug fined

Fylde Council litter patrol officers spotted the incident last month in Lytham. The man was given a fixed penalty notice – the sixth issued in the borough in the past four months.

Waste prevention and enforcement officer Gareth Matthews said: “We are working with volunteers across Fylde to educate people against dropping litter but enforcement has a role to play and we have been regularly giving out penalties in recent months.

“It doesn’t matter whether the litter is large or small, it all looks bad. Research has shown that cigarette ends take a number of years to decompose so they can build up over the years and become a minor eyesore.

“This particular incident was in Lytham centre but we regularly patrol all parts of Fylde. The borough is looking fantastic this summer and we don’t want litterbugs to spoil it.”

Last week The Gazette reported more than 7,000 bags of rubbish had been collected by volunteers in the borough since January.