It could be the most expensive pasty ever after a chimney sweep was fined hundreds of pounds for dropping a wrapper out of his van.

Graeme Morley, 45, regularly enjoyed a £1.25 Ginsters pasty for his lunch. But after being fined £500 for littering he can no longer stomach his favourite snack.

The part-time worker, of Lutyens Close, Bewbush, was found guilty in his absence and fined £150 with £350 costs at Redhill Magistrates' Court last Friday after a council worker spotted a packet fly out of his window last November.

But Graeme claims the wrapper blew off his dashboard when his colleague wound down the window as they drove along the A27 in Surrey - and he was unable to defend himself in court because he had not received a summons.

The father-of-one said: "It is absolutely absurd because I never drop litter. My colleague opened the window and it flew out."

A council officer followed the van and gave Mr Morley a £50 on the spot fine. When he refused to pay, he was taken to court by Reigate and Banstead Borough Council.

Mr Morley, who works at Milborrow, in Crawley Down, said: "I was still eating the pasty when the council man said I had to pay a fine.

"I didn't get a letter from the court so I had no way of defending myself."

Mr Morley, who was celebrated as a hero ten years ago after trying in vain to rescue a 15-year-old from a burning car, intends to appeal against the fine.

The council's executive member for the environment, Allen Kay, said: "Littering is costing the ratepayers thousands of pounds a year. "By giving this sort of fine it makes a statement, which is the only way we can crack down."

Reigate and Banstead Borough Council insists a summons was sent out by its legal team.

Redhill Magistrates' Court said the case could be reassessed if Mr Morley makes a statutory declaration confirming he did not know about the matter.