A Saltburn woman who has been fined for putting a bag of waste for recycling outside her home is appealing against the council penalty.

Alexandra Wilkinson placed garden waste for collection in recycling bags issued by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council outside her home in Windsor Road, last Friday.

But on Monday morning, as she was getting her daughter ready for school, a community warden knocked on the door and issued her with a £50 fine for littering - leaving two bags outside her front gate.

Mrs Wilkinson, who painstakingly puts tins, papers and garden waste in council-provided bags and boxes each week, said: "It was all very confusing. The community warden was actually quite rude. I think it is outrageous that this can happen to people who are trying to help the council by recycling."

Husband Gary said: "This heavy-handed approach seems totally inappropriate. We didn't know the specific day when the garden waste was supposed to be taken out but we certainly didn't know it was a criminal offence to put it out on the incorrect day.

"We've complained and we expect the council to review the decision to fine us. It is inappropriate and unfair use of power by these wardens."

The Wilkinsons have 14 days to appeal in writing.

Saltburn councillor Barbara Harpham, cabinet member for environmental improvement, said: "This is a well established scheme and I am surprised if anyone doesn't know the sacks are picked up on Wednesdays. It has been very successful."

The Saltburn kerb-side garden waste scheme was introduced in May and ensures the waste is recycled and is used on allotments and farmland.

Around 2,500 homes in the town were issued with a roll of sacks, a leaflet about the scheme and a collection date calendar.

Until October the collections will be weekly on a Wednesday. But in October and November the collections will be fortnightly on Wednesdays. From December to February they will be monthly, and in March they will revert to fortnightly and then back to weekly in May.