A KIDDERMINSTER motorist who threw a cigarette butt out of her car window has been slapped with a fine by magistrates.

Kidderminster Magistrates found Laura Quinn, of Offmore Road, guilty of littering following a trial on September 22.

Nina Dorrell, prosecuting for Wyre Forest District Council, told Kidderminster Magistrates Court that on January 26, while driving on the Proud Cross Ringway, 26-year-old Quinn threw a cigarette end out of her car's window and drove away.

Quinn denied the charge and told the court that she did not smoke.

The court heard evidence from the council's civil enforcement officer, who witnessed the offence, the council's investigating officers, as well as a witness for the defence.

But, magistrates found her guilty and in summing up, the chairman of the bench stated they did not find the evidence presented by Quinn credible.

She was fined £350 and was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £35. She was also ordered to pay £374.81 in respect of prosecution costs.

Councillor Rebecca Vale, the district council's cabinet member for operational services, said: "One of our key priorities is to keep Wyre Forest clean and looking good, and we run regular campaigns to highlight the problems litter creates.

"The vast majority of our residents and visitors in Wyre Forest work with us and dispose of their litter responsibly. However, if people insist on throwing their litter in the streets, then we will prosecute.

"So the message is please take your litter home or dispose of it in a bin. It really isn't worth the risk of being fined for throwing it in the street."