A THURROCK grandmother is the latest to bemoan the secretive tactics of Thurrock Council's litter enforcement officers after she was fined £150 for reportedly dropping a cigarette butt in a store car park in Grays.

Jeanette Howard says she was in the Aldi and Poundstretcher store car park off London Road in Grays when she says her three year-old grandson sudden broke free and made a dash towards traffic.

Her immediate response was to drop her cigarette and rush to grab the child and restrain him, and after she did so she was approached by a council-commissioned enforcement officer.

Jeanette says: "I was caught dropping my cigarette as my three-year-old grandson was about to run in the road looking for his granddad who was putting stuff in the car from Poundstretcher

"The enforcer was hiding in the trees and I apologised and picked it up explained what had happened and he still fined me £150. The child was crying for me, bless him, but the enforcer didn't care, even though I apologised and picked it up and explained what happened. I don't regret doing what I did it as my grandson could have lost his life. I'm just so angry that the council in Thurrock are not understanding. I have appealed the fine bu they have refused it and I have to pay."

Mrs Howard's comments on social media have sparked a litany of similar stories of people picking up littering fines in circumstances which they say were unfair.

Last month Thurrock Nub News reported on the fine picked up by local pensioner Rob Bradley and earlier this year we highlightedthe case of an elderly man in Aveley, who had little English vocabulary, who was also fined for dropping a cigarette butt.

Despite those stories and previous complaints from residents, Thurrock Council leader Cllr Rob Gledhill has remained a steadfast supporter of the littering enforcement policy and the 'no exceptions' stance that has brought the council hundreds of thousands of pounds of revenue - and raised a small fortune for the private firm contracted to enforce for the council.

Previously he has said: "This sends out the message that our streets are not to be treated as a convenient tip for those too irresponsible to use a bin or take litter home with them."

Earlier this year a report approved by ruling councillors set the groundwork in place for a new enforcement contract set to pay even more to private companies contracted by the council.