Police chase teacher over cigarette butt on street

A teacher claims he was removed from a bus by police after he stubbed a cigarette out on the pavement.

Stephen Cook, 49, from Finsbury Park, was outside Archway Tube station when he threw his cigarette on to the pavement. He said five wardens appeared to issue him with a £50 fine. Mr Cook, who said there were no ashtrays outside the station, refused to accept it and walked away to catch a bus.

He said Islington wardens called the police and minutes later they arrived with sirens sounding to tell him to get off the bus and accept the fine.

The law against stubbing out cigarettes on the street was introduced with the smoking ban in 2007.