IRATE motorists who throw away parking tickets are being hit with a "double whammy".

As well as facing an increasing parking fine they are being prosecuted for littering.

And two of the first cases to be put before the courts have resulted in £200 penalties.

Henry Fagan, of Dale Street, Liverpool, and Kimberley Jepson, of Honeyhole, Blackburn, were both convicted in their absence of littering and fined £100 with £100 costs by Blackburn magistrates.

Environmental regulator Tom Nelson said the court cases were linked to the local authority's zero tolerance policy on litter.

"People come back to their car and find a ticket and in temper rip it up and throw it on the floor," said Mr Nelson.

"Not only does the parking fine go up because they don't have the details to pay, but they can also expect to receive a summons for littering.

"They may be angry and feel aggrieved but that is not the way to go about it," he said.

"There is an appeals procedure for people who feel they have a genuine grievance but in most cases the easiest way to avoid this double whammy is the pay the parking fee."

Mr Nelson said a third case before the magistrates also highlighted the council's policy on littering.

Ruslamas Kleimas, of Bromwich Street, Bolton, was fined £100 with £100 costs after being convicted in absence of throwing cigarette ends out of his car.

The court heard the littering was witnessed by a parking supervisor who took the car registration details and the registered keeper was traced through the DVLA.

"People will learn, some to their cost, that zero tolerance means exactly that," added Mr Nelson.