A County Durham woman has paid a heavy price for dropping a cigarette butt as she was fined £438.

Sarah Allon dropped the cigarette end and left it in the road at Stanley Bus Station on June 3.

The 32-year-old of Coleridge Place in Pelton Fell, County Durham admitted littering and Durham County Council took her to court.

Get more from The Northern Echo with a digital subscription. Get access for five months for just £5, or get 40% off an annual subscription with our latest offer. Click here.

Her case was delt with at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (October 10) when she was fined a total of £438, made up of a £220 fine, £88 victim surcharge and £130 of costs.

She will have until November 7 to pay the fine.