A woman has been given a £500 penalty for fly-tipping after placing her daughter's toy kitchen by her front gate for others to take. Council enforcement officers arrived at her door and handed her the fee.

Anna Karamiseva had put the toy on the pavement with a sign which said "free to collect". She was shocked to see this was considered a criminal offence and hopes it will be written off. Anna even wrote an email of apology to the council and said that it was not litter.

However, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, where Anna lives, has provided an explanation for the penalty, reports The Sun.

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The council said: "Enforcement officers acted after an item was left on a public footpath for several days."

If the fine is paid within a fortnight, it will be reduced to £150.

According to GB News, reports show other residents have been handed similar fines.

As a result, councillors have spoken out on the issue.

Alison Carpenter said: "I understand many people are trying to dispose of items responsibly.

"However, residents should be aware that leaving items on the pavement, even temporarily for collection, can be treated as an obstruction and may result in enforcement action."

Anna's neighbour, Jo Jeer, has told of her anger at the decision, which she said makes her "blood boil," reports The Sun.

Jo adds: "A warm-hearted resident's daughter has outgrown her toy kitchen, so it's left outside the property for another family to pick up and give hours of fun to a younger child.

"But the council jumps at the chance to make money and criminalise the thoughtful mum who was just trying to recycle the toy and think of others."

"It's so obvious that this toy kitchen is not waste, or dumped rubbish - it was not blocking the pavement in any way.

"It just highlights the madness of red-tape loving zealots poisoning this country by targeting hard-working middle-class families."

Express.co.uk has contacted Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead for comment.