Throwing cigarette butts in the street has cost two people hundreds of pounds in fines and court costs.

Two street enforcement officers saw Kizzy Ripley, 26, throw down a cigarette in Chatham High Street and issued her with a fixed penalty notice of £80.

However, Ripley, of Haig Avenue, Chatham, failed to pay despite reminders from the enforcement team.

She was summoned before Medway magistrates but failed to appear, and was found guilty in her absence.

Ripley was fine £200, ordered to pay court costs of £235.06 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20.

Another man, Stefan Ireland was also seen by enforcement officers to drop a cigarette butt in the high street.

Ireland, 22, of Charing Road, Twydall, was also issued with a fixed penalty notice but failed to pay and ignored a reminder.

He was summed before Medway Magistrates but also failed to appear and in his absence he was fined £200, ordered to pay £243.71 court costs and a victim surcharge of £20.

Cllr Peter Hicks (Con), Medway Council’s head of community safety and customer contact, said: "These cases send a powerful message to those who have no respect for others - if you drop litter, including cigarette butts, and we catch you doing it, you will be fined.

"Please think of other residents and keep Medway tidy. Every year Medway Council spends roughly £3.8 million of tax payers’ money removing and disposing of street litter.

"While the majority of Medway residents take real pride in the area, others do not."