I WAS at a bus stop waiting for my usual bus travel to work and lit half a cigarette, smoked it, and put it out on the pavement.

A few minutes later I was given a fine of £80.

I understand that cigarette ends make a mess – but all the cleaning up of pavements and roads is providing good jobs for some people.

There have been many times I’ve seen empty cola and beer cans on pavements squashed and split, and if someone trips or falls on the sharp edges it could result in injury.

But people who smoke simply drop it then stamp on the finished cigarette to put it out – that isn’t dangerous.

Wardens are waiting in all sorts of areas to give out their fines to people who smoke, but they’re not watching and waiting to penalise people who are leaving much more substantial and even arguably more dangerous litter lying around.

Name and address supplied.