KIRKBY FLEETHAM residents turned out over the first weekend of March, in support of the national Great British Spring Clean campaign.

With the support of the primary school children, Hambleton District Council and local businesses, we collected numerous bags of rubbish from only a relatively small area of Hambleton.

Altogether across the UK, up to half a million people have been out and about clearing up the places they love as part of a wider campaign to rid the country of litter.

A question that we all asked was: “Who are the road users that throw out gin and vodka bottles, beer and coke cans, coffee cups and wine bottles, crisp bags and items much worse from their cars?”

The recent litter that has appeared on the road sides of the Bedale Relief Road (A684) and at the junction of the A1 is a disgrace and a bad reflection of humanity.

It is a shame that a significant number of the UK population seems to think they are entitled to throw rubbish into the road verges because it doesn’t matter – but it does.

The food chain outlets need to take responsibility for their packaging with some sort of incentive but education also starts at home and therefore the message must be don’t throw your rubbish out of your car – take it home.

Alison Booth, chairman, Kirkby Fleetham with Fencotes Parish Council