Hospital patients and visitors are being warned they face fines of £100 if they drop cigarette butts outside Hull Royal Infirmary.

Hull City Council is enforcing anti-littering legislation at the bus stop in Anlaby Road, close to the entrance of the hospital tower block.

Fines are now being issued to people caught throwing their cigarettes on the ground in the pavement outside the hospital.

Security investigator Chris Watson, part of the trust’s security team, said: “The bus stop outside the hospital is known as a problem area where people have been dropping their cigarettes.

“This is an antisocial act and we are in full support of the council stepping up their action to send a clear message to anyone coming to our hospital that this is not acceptable behaviour.”

Both Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital are non-smoking sites with signs displayed all over the hospitals reminding people not to smoke. Staff regularly ask people to put out their cigarettes when they are spotted smoking near the entrances to wards and departments.

The trust is now using the council’s action to step up its bid to prevent people sparking up on hospital grounds.

Mr Watson said: “We would like to remind smokers our hospitals are non-smoking sites and people coming here, whether they are sick or to visit a sick friend or relative, should not have to walk through clouds of their smoke to get into our buildings.

“Anyone caught smoking on our grounds will be asked to put out their cigarettes and dispose of them in the appropriate ashtrays.”