Rubbish more than 20 years old found along the A47

A volunteer litter-picker who has been cleaning laybys along the A47 has found rubbish that has been there for more than two decades.

Mark Fishpool has been cleaning up along the A47 near Peterborough for 18 months, and he said the amount of litter there was "disgraceful".

Mr Fishpool, 68, said the area had been neglected for years.

"The litter has blown into the undergrowth and the wooded area about 100ft back from the road," he said.

Mr Fishpool, who ran a building business before he retired, said he noticed the city was looking dirty and he wanted to "make a positive difference".

On Sunday, on his regular litter-pick between Wansford and Sutton, he collected more than 20 bags of rubbish.

"It's a section of road that has been neglected for many years," he said.

"There are crisp packets, drink cans with a date of 2004... so it shows the amount of litter over the years, and it makes it a hard job to clean.

"There's plastic, tin cans and all sorts blown into the woods, and there are so many animals... and it's all around where they live."

He added: "I also find a lot of discarded traffic signage, bollards and sandbags, and it is an absolute nightmare."

He said he would welcome some fellow volunteers to join him.

"I have been out every morning. Once you start... you just keep coming back to do more," he said.

"It's thin on the ground, unfortunately, so I would love for more people to join me.

"People driving by are hooting and waving at me. Sometimes I get a 'You are doing a lovely job' shout-out – it's gratifying to see and spurs me on."

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