CRUMBS! A Southampton man has been hit with a £75 on-the-spot littering fine – for feeding birds.

Just hours after new signs were put up warning people in Bitterne Precinct not to litter, patrols swooped on Kevin Bevis and landed him with a fixed penalty notice for dropping two crusts of bread for some pigeons.

Kevin, 51, was unaware that signs had been attached to two lampposts facing entrances to the precinct as part of a Crime Reduction and Environment Week (CREW) event by the city council.

“I didn’t see the signs until the man told me I was being fined,” said Kevin.

“I walk through here every day and have never seen them. He had to point them out to me because they are so high. They are at least 12ft up and quite small. Anyone in a wheelchair or buggy wouldn’t see them.”

The signs were installed to help rid the precinct of litter, chewing gum and cigarette butts – but they also warn people not to feed pigeons.

Kevin said he was disappointed that the officer was unwilling to let him off with a warning.

“I understand why the signs are there, but this person was just out to hand me a £75 fine. I would have thought with a new sign in the community they could let someone off with a warning.

“I can’t believe that someone can get fined £60 for speeding, but I get fined £75 for feeding a few birds. It’s disgusting.”

As part of CREW, council enforcement officers spent a week holding events around Bitterne, working with school pupils and residents to clean up the streets.

Police and council officers also implemented a zero tolerance approach on littering and fly-tipping, and made checks on untaxed vehicles.

Chairman of Bitterne Village Traders’ Association Rod Bennett said the signs were put up to target people who litter and vandalise the precinct and said Kevin was unlucky to have been fined so soon.

“Littering and vandalism is a big problem in the precinct and so are pigeons,” he said.

“I do feel sorry for him, as the fines are aimed at people who disregard the area. I think he was just very unlucky.”

Last year Southampton City Council handed out 260 £75 fixed penalty notices for littering. If paid early, the fine is reduced to £50.

Southampton City councillor Royston Smith, who attended the launch of Bitterne Precinct’s CREW week, said he would investigate the incident.