Nearly 20 people who had received fines for littering and hadn't paid have been brought before the courts in just one day.

The council pressed for legal proceedings after 19 residents failed to pay fixed penalty notices, and all cases were successful at Canterbury Magistrates' Court.

The offenders would have received a notice from the local authority in addition to two further warning letters sent after they have missed the payment deadline.

Having ignored the communication, the council says it was left with no alternative but to take the cases to court on Tuesday, December 5.

Cllr Lin Fairbrass, cabinet member for community safety and environment services, said: "These prosecutions are a clear signal that littering is not acceptable.

"Our stance is firm - we will not tolerate this anti-social and criminal behaviour that blights our district.

"Those taken to court generally end up paying considerably more than the initial £80 fixed penalty.

"On average, they face combined fines and costs amounting to £350.

"On top of that, they end up with a criminal record.

"Our message is simple - people who are caught dropping their litter in Thanet will be made to face the consequences."

Each person listed below did not attend court and was proven guilty in their absence and fined £220, plus £30 victim surcharge and £120 legal costs.

• Mark Brown
• David Bryant
• Peter Foley
• Bradleah Gilroy
• Carrie Hudson
• John Lewis
• Joanne Miller
• Annemarie O’Brien
• Ragena Potova
• Jake Taplin
• Jayne Webb
• Danny White
• Edward Wright

Each person listed below attended court and pleaded guilty, or did so by post and was fined £40, plus £30 victim surcharge and £120 costs.

• Hollie Hatcher
• Natalie Overton
• Sylvia Eliasova
• Susan Johnstone
• Richard Marday
• Luke McDonald