A Thornton man has been fined £350 plus £90 in additional costs for littering.

Shane Griffiths, aged 18 of Pinewood Avenue, was found guilty of breaching environmental laws after being spotted disposing of an empty cider bottle on public land.

Samantha Marland-Fitzell, prosecuting for Wyre Borough Council, told Blackpool magistrates that on June 13 Mr Griffiths was seen by a police inspector throwing the bottle into a dyke near to King George playing fields.

The court heard that when approached by the officer, Mr Griffiths replied:"Everyone else does it." A PCSO was subsequently summoned to the scene to issue a fixed penalty notice for littering, which had not been paid.

Mr Griffiths, who was not in court, was found guilty of the offence contrary to Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. In his absence he was fined £350, plus £75 costs and a £15 surcharge.

Michael Pyke, Enforcement Officer for Wyre Borough Council, said: "Littering is constantly identified as a concern by Wyre residents and this prosecution sends out a clear message that this kind of action will not be tolerated.

"Not only does it make our public open spaces look unsightly, in some cases littering can also pose a risk to public safety or have a detrimental impact on the environment."