Litterbugs have been targeted by police and council enforcement officers.

Smokers dropping cigarette butts are among those who have been handed £80 fixed penalty notices for dropping mess in the borough’s town centres.

The council has been carrying out the operations about three times a month for the past five years, with police providing support to stop any “breach of the peace”.

Councillor Lorna Campbell, cabinet member elect for environment, said: “Littering is one of the biggest concerns of Lambeth residents, and it costs the council around £8m each year to clean up, so we make no apologies for taking a tough line on those who throw rubbish on to our streets.

“Cigarette butts make up a large proportion of street litter, they take years to break down and are harmful to wildlife.”