A COUNCIL has admitted officers who fined a pensioner for dropping pork pie crumbs were 'over-zealous.'

Peter Vipham, 75, from Rawtenstall, said he was approached by enforcements officers and given a £50 fine last week.

The retired shoemaker said the officer ‘cautioned’ him before slapping him with the fine for dropping crumbs in the street, just yard away from where pigeons were being fed in Manchester city centre.

Mr Vipham said he would not be paying the fine and would be seeking legal advice and the council have since come out and said they accept he dropped the food accidentally.

A Manchester City Council spokesperson said: "No one was telling 'porkie pies' here, but having reviewed the case, we accept that Mr Vipham dropped food on the floor accidentally and that the officers involved were over-zealous in this instance.

"We understand why Mr Vipham found the fine hard to swallow, have cancelled it and will speak to the officers, to ensure that something like this doesn't happen again."

Mr Vipham said he has not received an apology from the council.

He said: "No one from the council has been in contact with me but I have been told they are dropping the fine, which stands to reason.

"I've have heard they are going to reprimand officers who fined me which is good.

"I'm glad it is all over but I would have liked an apology, what else would you expect from a city like that?"