Not "Up, Up and Away"

TEENAGER, 16, FINED FOR LITTERING ... AFTER LETTING BALLOON GO AT CHARITY EVENT WITHOUT TYING THE END

A teenager who let off a balloon has been given a £50 fine for littering.

Max Twizell, 16, had inflated the helium-filled balloon at a charity event in Newcastle. However, a council official spotted him allowing it to spiral away without tying the end.

The youngster has been told to pay the £50 penalty or he will be hauled before magistrates.

Max Twizell was fined for littering after he released a balloon into the air during a charity event in Newcastle

His mother, Lorraine condemned the action as ‘petty and vindictive’.

But Newcastle Council said it had a zero-tolerance approach to littering.

Mrs Twizell, 47, of Heddon on the Wall, Northumberland, said: ‘There are far worse examples of littering all around us.

‘Will the council fine every charity that holds a balloon race £50 per balloon? How about toddlers in prams who accidentally release their helium balloon?

‘I want to fight this in court but my son is frightened of getting a criminal record if I lose.’

Max said: ‘I took one of the balloons to do the funny voice. I let it go and walked off with some friends but this guy came up and fined me.

‘I wasn’t given a chance to find it and pick it up. It’s a bit silly and annoying.’

Stephen Savage, director of regulatory services and public protection, said the council was expected to take firm action on littering.

He added: ‘We can confirm that we have issued a £50 fine to a teenager for dropping an item of litter in Old Eldon Square.

‘He has 28 days to pay and if not may face court action. To some people this may sound harsh but we believe that to create a cleaner, safer city we must send out a clear message that this will not be tolerated.’

He said a survey carried out last year showed 62 per cent of residents wanted to see more enforcement action on environmental issues including littering.

He said: ‘We believe pursuing action against offences like this sends out an uncompromising message that litter dropping in the city will not be tolerated.

‘Since April 1 last year, we have issued 1,042 fixed penalty notices for litter.

‘We spend £6million every year on neighbourhood response teams who spend a disproportionate amount of their time picking up almost 30tons of litter from our streets every day.’

(Daily Mail)