People who toss litter from vehicles in London face fines of up to £100 under new laws aimed at curbing roadside rubbish.

Motorists now face automatic fines if litter is thrown from their vehicles, even if a passenger is to blame.

Councils across London have new powers - that came info force in mid-June - to issue vehicle owners with Penalty Charge Notices for littering, and can use CCTV to note number plates and trace registered owners.

Previously, councils had to prove beyond reasonable doubt who had thrown the litter. Local authorities have now closed a legal loophole by introducing laws steered through parliament by London Councils, the body representing the capital’s 33 local authorities. 

Campaign group Keep Britain Tidy found that one in five people admitted throwing litter from vehicles.   Councillor Catherine West, Chairman of London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee, said: “Rubbish piled up at the side of the road after being flung from vehicles is a real eyesore. It’s anti-social and from now on councils who have to clean up the mess will be able to fine car owners regardless of who threw the rubbish.”