85-year-old litter picker in shock after Walsall Council fine him £150 for littering - when he forgot his walking stick

Furious Alan Davies was "shocked, angry and upset" to be fined for littering by Walsall Council when he forgot his walking stick after he and his friends had been on their daily litter pick along Longwood Lane and Hayhead Wood.

The Aldridge grandfather, who fixed broken benches in the wood at his own expense, has been threatened with prosecution if he does not pay the fine in 14 days. And he says he is unable to appeal against it.

On September 6, after his morning walk and litter pick on Longwood Lane, Alan, aged 85, says he drove off - forgetting to pick up his walking stick and a bag with his cushion in. The items were left on the road. Alan claims Walsall Council tracked him down after trawling through CCTV images from a time lapse camera. He says council officers found his address by using his car's number plate and sent him the fine last week.

The former builder said: "Why would I leave my walking stick there by purpose. I want it back, but I cannot speak to anyone human about the fine.

"I need my walking stick, they have taken the trouble to track me down - and after all I've done for the area, they could have given me my walking stick back. They have tried to bankrupt me."

Alan's friends and fellow litter pickers have tried in vain to talk to someone at Walsall Council about the fine but they keep being told to email their complaint.

Alan's fellow walker and litter picker John said: "They are non-negotiable. They will not listen. Or talk to you over phone. They need to prove intent and there is none. He drove off by mistake."

The letter, from Walsall Council's Community Protection Department, threatens Alan: "If payment is not received proceedings maybe taken against you where you maybe liable to a fine of up to a maximum of £2500."

Included in the letter are two CCTV images, one showing Alan and John walking towards their car, and then another ten minutes later showing the walking stick and cushion on the floor.

John said: "There is a ten minute gap between the pictures, they obviously could not be bothered to look at the picture of film which shows him driving off and forgetting the stick and bag with his cushion in, surely they have to prove some kind of intent. Instead it is like trying to talk to a brick wall."

Every morning before most people have had their breakfast Alan and his friends walk round Aldridge cleaning up rubbish left by inconsiderate litter bugs as they go. Alan takes his cushion to sit down halfway through to have a coffee.

The widower said: "Beer cans, takeaway rubbish you name it we pick it up. We even fixed the benches in the park in our own time and with our own money. We must save the council thousands of pounds every year doing their job and they thank us by fining me £150? It is not on."

John said: "Every morning we picked up litter for free but ever since Alan got his fine we are not bothering, why should we?" The trio of pensioners last hope of justice is the outrage of Express & Star readers.

Alan's neighbour Ann said: "£150 is a lot of money for a pensioner. You cannot speak to the council on phone it has to be email, not everyone has the internet. Hopefully when people realise what Alan is being put through the council will back down."

Email adam.smith@jpress.co.uk with messages of support for Alan which will be sent to Walsall Council.

The Express & Star has contacted Walsall Council for a comment.