A WOMAN who dropped 'cigarette litter' near the town centre has been fined and ordered to pay court costs totalling £270.

Nicky Toth, fromLeigh, was found guilty in her absence at Warrington Magistrates’ Court last week of the littering offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

The 45-year-old was spotted dropping the litter on Scotland Road on June 20 last year.

She was issued with a fixed penalty notice of £75 which she failed to pay, despite two reminders, and was subsequently fined £150, a victim surcharge of £20 and ordered to pay the council £100 in costs.

Pete Astley, assistant director for regulation and public protection, said: “The message is simple: Think before you mess up our streets.

"Put your litter in the bin and if you don’t, your carelessly dropped litter could cost you £75 or even more.

"We are taking a tougher stance against littering and will be issuing fixed penalty notices to those who are caught dropping litter."