LITTER pickers recovered hundreds of sacks of rubbish after deciding to give one of Hambleton’s main routes a spring clean.

Members of the district council’s Street Scene team tackled the growing amount of waste littering the A19 between Thirsk and York.

They took it on themselves to clean the 36 miles of grass verge after complaints about the amount of litter that had been discarded.

And in just four hours they collected more than 200 black sacks of rubbish - as well as televisions, a bed, a pram, 13 tyres, a car bumper, lead roofing felt, two traffic signs, two cones, two exhaust pipe systems and four barriers.

“It is disappointing to see that drivers choose to deposit not only rubbish but items such as televisions and even a pram,” said Street Scene manager John Proud.

“Hambleton is determined to crackdown on flytipping which not only pollutes our countryside but costs the council considerable amounts of money to clear away.

“I would urge anyone witnessing flytipping to report it and help keep Hambleton clean and tidy.”

To report flytipping waste or see it taking place contact 0845 121 1555 giving as much information as possible – including vehicle makes and registrations.