Hundreds of bags of rubbish collected from the A14

Drivers along a busy dual-carriageway have been urged to take their litter home after half a sofa and more than 300 bags of rubbish were cleared up during two planned road closures.

Martin Griffiths, leader of North Northamptonshire Council, said it was "deeply upsetting" that so much debris was collected from the A14, and the cost to clear it up would be fall on taxpayers.

National Highways, which worked with the local authority on the operation, said it was a "serious issue that affects driver safety".

The collections took place by the junctions for Kelmarsh, Corby and Thrapston.

National Highways said that, since August, 315 bags of rubbish, three bumpers, five mudguards, a metal side rail, eight tyres and half a sofa have been found along verges and in laybys.

The debris was collected at the River Nene viaduct scheme, between junctions 12 and 13, and a maintenance project near Kelmarsh, between junctions 2 and 3.

Kamaljit Khokhar, National Highways head of planning and development, said: "Roadside litter is a serious issue that affects driver safety, contributes to pollution and threatens local wildlife."

He said roads had to be closed to keep workers safer but that would not happen "if people just took their litter home with them in the first place".

Griffiths said: "As well as this work along the A14, we are also looking at undertaking similar litter picks along the A45, but due to the risks to our staff we have to wait until road closures are scheduled.

"Seeing the disregard that motorists have for key routes across North Northants is deeply upsetting, especially as it is likely that most of this rubbish has come from drivers travelling through the area.

"This puts the cost of the clear-up on the North Northamptonshire taxpayer, and I would urge everyone to take their rubbish home."

On Saturday, volunteers from the A14 River Nene viaduct project and Thrapston Town Council will carry out litter picks around junction 13.

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