MAGISTRATES have fined ten people for littering in County Durham.

The defendants were found guilty in their absence at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court on August 9.

Defendants included Brian Norris, 59, of Galloway Road in Peterlee; Stephen Dunbar, 43, of Poplar Street, South Moor, Stanley; Anne Marie Priestley, 30, of Park Road, South Moor, Stanley; Ross Moore, 21, of Appledore Gardens, Edmondsley; Gordon Howe, 50, of Park View, Chester le Street; Carol Ann Gallon, 22, of Hunters Road, Newcastle; Carly Merchant, 25, of Oakley Green, West Auckland; Rachael Beattie, 34, of East Street, Stanley; Thomas Harrison, 58, of Park Road, Consett and Andrew Glehorn, 42, of Langdon Gardens, Catchgate, Stanley. Each was fined £220 and ordered to pay £130 costs and £30 victim surcharge while Merchant was fined £147 for her early guilty plea.

The majority of offences took place at Stanley Bus Station and on Front Street in Chester-le-Street.

Oliver Sherratt, Durham County Council’s head of direct services, said: “These prosecutions should act as a warning to those failing to dispose of their litter responsibly and illustrate that such actions can prove very costly.

“We know that both littering and dog fouling are of concern for residents across the county and we take all offences of this kind extremely seriously.”