OUTRAGED residents living near the police headquarters in Portishead are calling for something to be done about the amount of cigarette litter piling up in the area.

OUTRAGED residents living near the police headquarters in Portishead are calling for something to be done about the amount of cigarette litter piling up in the area.

People living near the offices in Valley Road claim staff regularly congregate outside the grounds to smoke and cigarette ends and matchsticks are often strewn across the pavements.

Portishead resident, Tania Probets, said: "I regularly travel on a bus route that passes the police headquarters and it's disgusting to see the carpet of cigarette ends on the floor.

"Even my six-year-old daughter asked what the people were doing and why they are allowed to drop things on the floor. Surely the staff should have somewhere inside the grounds to smoke?"

It is a criminal offence to drop litter and offenders can be fined £50, but this can be increased to £2,500 if the case goes to court.

A member of staff smoking outside the grounds, who did not want to be named, said: "Some of us are smokers and we need to have a cigarette.

"We understand and fully support the ban on smoking in the workplace and in enclosed spaces, however the police grounds here are vast and I can't understand why they can't provide us with a small outside area with a bin, where we can have a quick cigarette without interfering with anyone else.

"I don't like standing outside in the street having a cigarette and I know my colleagues don't either."

Police spokesman, Wayne Baker, said: "The police headquarters and grounds are designated as a no-smoking area.

"What people do outside the premises is a matter for the individual but we would expect people to behave responsibly and with respect to the surrounding area and local residents.

"We regularly remind staff of their responsibilities in relation to parking legally and smoking off-site.