Just a few lines for those who smoke.

Are you aware that our local council operates a scheme under which they can issue a fixed penalty notice of £50 if they believe that you have thrown a cigarette stump out of your car window.

I know this because it has been alleged that I committed an offence back in November 2003, but I only received the notice in late January 2004. As I have no recollection of the alleged offence I wrote to the Environmental Health Office asking what proof they had and when did this law come into effect.

Apparently the council launched its "Kick Litter Into Touch" campaign back in April 2002 with coverage in the local media, posters in various locations and a series of news releases. Their evidence is based on an eyewitness

report by a council litter warden, which consists of registration number, make and colour of the vehicle along with time, date and location of the observation.

As I still could not remember committing any offence, I rang the environmental office and explained that I normally use the ashtray, so could they provide any of the following as proof, a photo, the cig end or a brief description of the driver, as there are two drivers registered to my car and one does not smoke. They said 'no' to all of these and assured me the litter warden's word was good enough for the fine to be enforced in a court of law.

But its not just the motorists who face being fined, its the pedestrians too. Since the launch of this campaign the council claim that over 300 fines have been issued and that they have a team of 20 litter wardens on the streets.

They also claim that in November 2002, the first of around 200 litter bins were adapted to include 'stubber plates' for cigarette ends. Fifteen months down the line I have noticed one on the streets of Leigh.

I'm all for keeping the area clean and tidy, but once again the smoker is in the firing line, an easy target for the council. You can't put your cigarette out on the floor as this incurs a fine, and you can't throw it in the bin as this will cause a fire and probably carries the penalty of criminal damage.

So once again the smoker is in a no-win situation.

Name and address supplied