Three people have been taken to court and fined after they were caught dropping cigarette butts in Watford town centre.

Zana Hussein from north Watford, Maria Tubbritt from Harrow and Peter Woodward from Chesham were spotted by Watford Borough Council Enforcement Officers littering in June in separate incidents.

All three accepted a fixed penalty notice of £75, with a discount of £50 if paid within seven days.

But despite reminders, the council said all three failed to pay the penalty and were summoned to appear at Watford Magistrates' Court on Monday. All three failed to appear at court and were fined in their absence.

Mr Hussein, of St Albans Road, was fined £200 and ordered to pay costs of £250 and a £15 victim's surcharge.

Ms Tubbritt, of Courtenay Avenue, in Harrow Weald and Mr Woodward, of Cameron Road in Chesham were both fined £150 and ordered to pay costs of £250 as well as a £15 victim's surcharge.

Councillor Derek Scudder, Cabinet member with responsibility for environmental issues said: "The council is working hard to improve the appearance of the town centre and is making good progress in reducing the amount of litter dropped.

"Our anti littering adverts say ‘Love Watford Hate Litter’ and explain that even though you might not consider it, cigarette butts are also litter. However education and promotion alone has not proved a deterrent to some people and these cases once again show that the council takes any form of littering very seriously, and that the courts agree, shown by the substantial nature of the fines.

"We need to change attitudes to litter and make people realise what they are doing matters."