Two Bexley residents have given up smoking as a result of a new initiative that cuts littering fines in half.

The two former smokers, from Welling and Erith, were both fined £80 for dropping a cigarette on the ground.

As part on the joint initiative between Bexley’s Stop Smoking and litter enforcement services, they were offered a 50 per cent refund of their fines after successfully quitting for good.

The Erith resident said: “I would recommend signing up to this scheme 100 per cent.

“Seeing a specialist advisor once a week helped me stay focused instead of trying to do it on my own.”

The Welling resident said: “I was livid at the time of getting the ticket, but it was the kick start to stopping smoking and now I’m really grateful.”

The scheme launched last year to encourage people to be more litter and health conscious all in one.

When issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN), the offender is offered a card by the enforcement officer showing details of how to sign up for the stop smoking course.

Councillor Peter Craske, cabinet member for community safety, environment and leisure, said: “Going smokefree not only improves health, it can also save a huge amount of money.

“Both residents have saved a fortune by quitting smoking and getting a discount on their fines has helped too.

“Offering this incentive, along with the support of our excellent and free stop smoking services, is just what these residents needed to help them kick the habit for good.”

Dr Anjan Ghosh, Bexley’s director of public health, said: “Smoking remains the leading cause of premature death and chronic illness and still kills one in every two smokers.

“Most smokers want to quit and by signing up for evidence-based treatment and support from the Public Health Stop Smoking team, they will have the best chance of doing so.”

Bexley’s Stop Smoking Service is available to anyone registered with a Bexley GP.