SMOKERS in some parts of Worcestershire are being offered free personal ashtrays to help dispose of cigarettes butts.

Wychavon District Council is providing more than 2,000 of the ashtrays free to smokers. They come in a range of colours and can be clipped on to belts to provide a handy place to dispose of cigarettes once they're finished with.

Geoff Carpenter, environmental protection manager, said: "We are very pleased that they have proved so popular and hope that they are helping to spread the message to smokers not to throw cigarette butts on the ground, where they can take up to 12 years to biodegrade.

"Whilst causing a risk to birds and wildlife, who mistake them as food, it also costs Wychavon taxpayers over 140,000 a year to dispose of smoking related litter.

"Those who continue to litter could face a fine, so remember - the street is not an ashtray."

Portable ashtrays are available free from the community contact centres, but stocks are going fast so people are urged to snap them up quickly.