EIGHT people have been ordered to pay out more than £250 for dropping litter.

Durham County Council has successfully prosecuted the three men and five women in their absence at Darlington Magistrates Court.

The authority took the offenders to court under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, as part of its ongoing efforts to reduce enviro-crime in the county.

All were convicted of offences committed in the County Durham area since May.

They were each fined £100 and ordered to pay costs of £130 and a victim surcharge of £30.

Ian Hoult, the council’s neighbourhood protection manager, said: “We issue fixed penalty notices to anyone we see dropping litter and have prosecuted these eight people who have not paid.

“These cases show we will not tolerate litter and that we will take action against those who drop it.”

To report litter online visit the council’s website at http://www.durham.gov.uk/litter