A pensioner was hit with a £250 fine after spitting out a leaf that blew into his mouth. Roy Marsh, 86, was told off by two council enforcement officers after stopping to rest near some reeds in the seaside resort of Skegness , Lincolnshire, in February. It was a windy day, and a reed blew into his mouth, which he spat out. Mr Marsh claims that one of the officers shouted: "Hey you, we've got reason to believe you've been spitting."

The grandfather of two added: "I was shocked when they approached me. I don't know where they appeared from. I've been back down there filming today for the local TV news and it was windy again – a leaf smacked me right in the face while we were walking so it could have happened again today." His wife, Anne, 76, said the incident really upset her

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