A woman enjoying a lunchtime sandwich was slapped with a £150 fine after tossing a crust to a pigeon.

Holly Piper, 36, said she was approached by two council enforcement officers while watching the birds peck at the discarded morsel.

The officers issued her with a littering penalty notice on the spot. 

Holly challenged the fine, arguing she had simply fed a bird, but her appeal has since been rejected.

English tutor Holly, of Ealing, West London, said: 'I gave the pigeons the crust of my tuna sandwich and, out of the corner of my eye, I saw some blokes coming towards me.

'I've had my phone nicked before and turned to run away. Then I saw their black uniforms. 

'It was horribly confusing because I didn't think I'd done anything wrong. All the crust was gone. 

'I feel like I've been going mad and doubting myself, asking if it really is illegal to feed the birds.'

An Ealing Council spokesperson said: 'Clean, safe streets and parks are a top priority for our residents, which is why we take a zero-tolerance approach to littering.

'This includes dropping food on the floor for pigeons, which can attract rats and other vermin. 

'We have communicated our approach to littering through numerous channels, including the media, social media and directly to our residents. 

'Our success rate in magistrates' court for littering cases, including bird feeding, spitting, and urinating in public, is around 98 per cent.' 

This comes after a man was issued with a £200 fine by a warden after he dropped a teabag from his McDonald's cup on the ground. 

Peter Murray said he was sitting in his car with a cup of tea in Poole, Dorset when he went to remove the used bag but it burnt his fingers, so he 'threw it in the direction of his car door pocket.' 

He claims he didn't realise it missed and actually fell through his open door and landed on the ground. 

A warden for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council (BCP) then approached Mr Murray and issued him with a £200 fine for littering.

The penalty would be dropped to £100 if he paid up within 14 days, he was told.

Residents were outraged by the move, and accused the council of hypocrisy over a failure to challenge visitors who leave mountains of rubbish at popular beauty spots such as Bournemouth Beach.

Mr Murray said he was made to feel like a criminal over the accidental act and that the warden ignored his protestations that he still had the rest of his McDonald's waste ready to throw away.