COUNCIL officials are aiming to stub out cigarette litter in south Durham this week.

During increased and high profile patrols, teams of neighbourhood wardens and civic pride officers are tackling the issue and confronting anyone seen dropping cigarette ends onto the ground.

Offenders will be given a stubbi, a pocket-sized reusable ashtray that can be safely used to put out cigarettes before they are placed in a bin.

Members of the public will also be reminded that cigarette butts are classed as litter and dropping them can carry a fixed penalty fine.

Richie Brown, Durham County Council's neighbourhood warden co-ordinator, said: "Throwing away a cigarette end is the same offence as dropping any other type of litter and attracts a fixed penalty notice of £80.

"However, millions of cigarette butts are discarded throughout the county every year. They are a pollutant to the environment and are costly to remove."

Officers will be joined by a human-sized cigarette to get their message across and will combine the clampdown with offering smokers information and advice on how to quit, in recognition of it also being national No Smoking Day today.

Patrols took place in Barnard Castle, Bishop Auckland and Crook today, and they will be held tomorrow in Shildon from 10am to 11am, Newton Aycliffe from 11.30am to 12.30pm, Ferryhill from 1.30pm to 2.30pm and Spennymoor from 3pm to 4pm.

For help on quitting smoking, call the County Durham and Darlington NHS Stop Smoking service on 0800-011-3405.