STUBBED-OUT cigarettes dropped by smokers yields almost 3.5 tonnes of waste in the worst-hit area of Barnsley, a council report has claimed.

The North East Area Council - which covers Cudworth, North East, Monk Bretton and Royston wards - revealed 3.4 tonnes of cigarette-related litter was collected over a year.

The report - which adds that there are approximately 8,000 smokers in the area - says societal costs due to smoking now tops £10m in healthcare, house fires and productivity.