THE confrontations led to nervous glances, sheepish grins and even a complete change in behaviour.

Cllr David Smith watched people drop their cigarette butts in Bournemouth - then grilled them up as the Daily Echo filmed the encounter.

Litterbugs face a £60 fine for doing it but we revealed last week how only eight people have so far being given tickets, despite a high profile advertising campaign.

So Cllr Smith, cabinet member for the community, took it upon himself to find out why people did it, and make them think twice. He said: "Why should people abuse our town in this way? People who litter should be punished."

Cllr Smith thinks wardens might be wary of confronting people - but he has not such problem.

In Bournemouth square he caught two people in 15 minutes despite numerous stubber' bins.

An Egyptian man's excuse was the cigarettes might start a fire.

And a homeless man even went so far as to pick up his cigarette and put in the bin after he was confronted.

Cllr Smith said: "You have got to be confident and direct with people."

A be-suited office worker in Old Christchurch Road looked extremely relieved when told he would not be fined, while another office worker in Yelverton Road managed to smile, shake Cllr Smith's hand and promise not to do it again.

One smoker, a 19-year-old girl watching Cllr Smith in the square, stepped in to say people simply dropped butts out of force of habit - and Cllr Smith said this was his main lesson of the day.

But he added: "I want to see wardens on the streets looking out for these offences and issuing tickets. It's as simple as that.

"It's like with speeding. People used to do it all the time. Now they see speed cameras and slow down."