REDBRIDGE council has vowed to continue its war on litter after offenders lashed out at its 'draconian' measures.

It is now one year since fixed penalty notices were introduced in the borough for crimes such as failing to clean up dog fouling, graffiti or fly-posting.

Over 600 have since been issued, each carrying a minimum fine of £50.

While the council proclaims the scheme a fantastic success, others believe that the punishment far outweighs the crime and have called for a softer approach.

Linda Collison, of Hockley Court in South Woodford, has been on incapacity benefit for depression since her brother George went missing five years ago.

She told the Guardian she would struggle to pay the £80 fine she received for throwing a cigarette butt from her friend's car.

She said: "I couldn't believe it when I saw the fine. I'm disgusted because they didn't give me any sort of warning. I walk dogs in the forest and always pick up their mess, and help the council by picking up litter in the summer.

"They say that I could get a £1,500 fine and even a criminal record for a single cigarette end. It's draconian, and is simply a way to raise money rather than to stop people littering."

Chief executive Matthew Elliott of the campaign group, the Taxpayers' Alliance, agreed that penalty charges are used as a source of revenue by councils rather than as a serious enforcement tool.

He said: "There is a place for fines if people commit crimes but no-one wants to live in a country where council officials lurk around hoping to slap fines on people as a way of generating income.

"Perhaps if the council provided more bins and better services fewer people would drop cigarettes in the first place."

A spokeswoman for Redbridge Council said the money received from these fines goes towards making the borough a cleaner, greener and safer place to live.

She added: "The Street Scene enforcement team will help the council achieve these objectives by making full use of its legal powers to tackle environmental crimes such as littering.

"Redbridge Council can make arrangements for people on low incomes to pay weekly if the need arises. Anyone who fails to pay the fixed penalty notice within 14 days could face further proceedings via the courts."