A CIGARETTE stub thrown out of the car window by a passenger proved costly for a motorist.

Blackburn magistrates heard police stopped the Honda HR-V to speak to the litter bug and ended up breathalysing the driver.

Waldemar Miroslaw Pietruszka, 42, of Hamer Avenue, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol in Blackburn on January 19.

He was fined £80 with £85 costs and £30 victim surcharge and banned from driving for 12 months.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said initially the police were just offering some words of advice but then smelled alcohol on the driver's breath.

Imran Hussain, defending, said his client, who gave a reading of 53 against the legal limit of 35, had been drinking at a friend's house and made the foolish decision to drive home.

"There was no criticism of his driving, it was just the discarded cigarette end which caught the attention of the police," said Mr Hussain.