A joint police and council crackdown saw 17 men and one woman fined by Chester Magistrates for urinating in public at night in the city centre.

They pleaded guilty after being captured on CCTV cameras.

The majority were fined £80 as well as having to pay court costs of £205 and a "victim surcharge" of £15.

Councillor Lynn Riley, Chester and Cheshire West Council executive member for community and environment, said: “Make no mistake, we aim to eliminate this disgusting behaviour from happening in the city centre.

“These prosecutions are part of a committed partnership with the police to prosecute these offences, most of which were captured on CCTV.

“We are determined to crackdown on such behaviour and send out the message that it will not be tolerated.

“We want to see everyone able to enjoy visiting Chester but when the actions of a few spoil it for the rest, we will act."

Councillor Riley added: "The very fabric of our world-famous Rows and city centre is being destroyed by such action and we send out the message – don’t do this in public because you will be caught and you will be prosecuted.”

Sergeant Andy Burrage from Chester inner neighbourhood policing unit said: “These sentences reflect the anti-social nature of the offences and the dim view the magistrates take of this type of behaviour.

“Urinating in public, particularly on the Rows, is not just anti-social. It damages the fabric of the Rows and leaves unpleasant odours for people using the area by day.

“Officers will continue to work in partnership with council CCTV and deal robustly with those who still think that it is acceptable to behave in this way."

The cases followed a drive launched last year by Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Trading Standards unit and Cheshire Police.

One man’s case was proved in his absence and he was fined £120. Another was fined a total of £450 because the case also involved a penalty for smoking and a littering. Two others were fined £100 extra for litter offences.

Five of those fined live in Chester, one in Ellesmere Port, five from North Wales and others were from Northwich, Helsby, Crewe, Stoke-on-Trent, Sutton Coldfield and two from Manchester.

The cases followed a crackdown launched last year by Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Trading Standards unit and Cheshire Police.