POSTERS have gone on the side of council dustcarts warning smokers they face fines for dropping cigarette butts.

Basildon Council is introducing £75 fines from February 2 for anyone seen dropping cigarette ends.

To get the message across, council dustcarts have been fitted with the signs.

Terri Sargent, councillor for the environment, said: “Our refuse trucks are a good way to get the message across because they catch people’s attention. Cigarette butts are a major source of town centre litter.”