Six litterbugs have been slapped with on-the-spot fines after they were caught chucking rubbish onto pavements.

The lawbreakers were given the £80 fixed penalty notices by the council's anti-litter squad and police during an operation in Tooting Broadway.

In recent weeks council officers have been attempting to raise the issue of littering by talking to members of the public around the area of the Tube station.

They gave away 200 pocket ashtrays to try and discourage smokers from throwing butts on the ground.

The borough's environment spokesman Councillor Jonathan Cook said: "The simple message we are trying to get across is that people need to put their rubbish in litter bins."