SIX people have been fined a total of more than £900 for throwing away their rubbish in County Durham.

All the defendants failed to appear at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (5 May) where they were found guilty in their absence of discarding litter.

The court heard how neighbourhood wardens from Durham County Council spotted five of the defendants on separate occasions dropping a cigarette butt and one defendant was seen dropping a beer bottle.

The offences took place in Stanley town centre, Chester-le-Street town centre, Consett town centre, Reynolds Close, Stanley, and Front Street, Consett, between December 2014 and January 2015.

Each defendant was also ordered to pay costs of £130 and a £20 victim surcharge.