MORE than 30 people have been fined for littering offences.

Durham County Council has prosecuted 31 people at Peterlee Magistrates Court on Tuesday for failing to pay fixed penalty notices for offences including littering and failing to clean up dog mess.

Defendants were ordered to pay a total of just over £10,000 in fines and other legal costs.

Ian Hoult, neighbourhood protection manager, Durham County Council, said: “Our neighbourhood wardens issue fixed penalty notices to anyone they witness committing littering offences, such as dropping cigarette butts, or failing to pick up after their dogs.

“However, when these fixed penalty notices are not paid we will take the culprits to court and prosecute them.

“Our communities tell us on a regular basis how concerned they are about these types of offences and, along with our continued educational work, the number of prosecutions here demonstrates our commitment to tackling these issues.”