Firstly, I notice that a lot of the street cleaning machines, especially the latest electric ones, do not always pick up the butts as the brushes often cram them into the cracks between the paving slabs or paving bricks. Also, they tend to push them to the outside against the walls.

Secondly, one of the areas by Sainsbury's in Lynn does not have a place where you can stub out your cigarette. This means that people cannot bin the butts as, if there is paper in the bin, it could cause a fire.

I also noted that they spent time and money counting the cigarette ends, so it is probable that they could have counted the same ends twice. Finally, the amount of fine that could be imposed is ridiculous, especially when you see that the sentence imposed in the court for three lots of criminal damage came to £470 compensation.

I assume that the council needs to raise some extra monies quickly and also I presume that none of them smokes and has never thrown a cigarette end away. I smoke and, as people will tell you, I always put mine down a drain.

MR J. CLANCEY, St Johns Fen End