The scale of the challenge of litter on the country’s roads has been highlighted by a clean-up on a six mile stretch of the A12, leading to the collection of 14 tonnes of rubbish.

Colchester City Council carried out a large-scale four-night clean-up of the A12, with seven council officers working to remove litter and debris along the road past the city between junctions 26 and 29.

They removed 3.7 tonnes of waste from the roadside. This included 19 tyres, 13 abandoned road signs and three fly-tips. A mechanical road sweeper also supported the operation, clearing around three tonnes of material from the carriageway, totalling nearly 14 tonnes.

Cllr Martin Goss, Portfolio Holder for Waste, Neighbourhoods and Leisure, said: “I know people expect the roads they use every day to be safe, clean and well looked after, and this work goes a long way towards making that happen. It might not always be visible while it’s taking place, but clearing litter and dumped items from major routes like the A12 really does make a difference for residents and everyone travelling through the area.

“I want to thank our street care teams who carried out this hard work overnight to keep disruption to a minimum. Their effort and commitment play a vital role in looking after our shared spaces and taking pride in Colchester.”

(Picture – Colchester Council)