More than 100 sacks of litter have been collected from Cumbria and North Lancashire’s motorways during a 3-day spring clean.
Highways England took to the verges last month, coinciding with the national 'Clean for the Queen' initiative to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday in May.
Workers targeted litter hotspots in early-March, collecting 116 sacks of rubbish.
Roadside litter can lead to hazards for other motorists if it is thrown from moving vehicles, cause a threat to wildlife and lead to flooding if drains become blocked. It also puts the workers who are collecting the rubbish from the side of busy motorways at risk.
Highways England director Robert Castleman said: “Our contractors collect vast amounts of litter from motorways every year but we’d much rather they spend their time fixing potholes and carrying out other essential maintenance work.
“The litter on our roads can cause a hazard to drivers, our workers and wildlife so I’d urge everyone to keep a bag in their car which they can use for rubbish, and then put it in the bin when they get home.
“We targeted known litter hotspots last month and it would be great if these hotspots remained free of litter in the weeks and months ahead."