Council boss seen dropping litter

Graham Haywood was seen outside the council offices

The chief executive of a council which has been cracking down on litter, has apologised after he was seen dropping his cigar butt in a flowerbed.

Graham Haywood, chief executive of Sefton Council in Merseyside, was spotted discarding the smoked cigar outside the authority's offices.

The Southport-based council has recently launched several high-profile anti-litter campaigns.

Mr Haywood, said the incident was "a lesson" to him.

He said: "Although this occurrence has proved to be an uncomfortable situation for me personally, if it has raised awareness of the issue in people's minds, then there has been some good that has come out of it, and I'm pleased about that at least.

"It's certainly been a lesson for me and I will be taking care in the future."

Sefton Council looks after residents in Southport, Crosby and Bootle.