Test Valley Borough Council is the latest council to join forces with the Highways Agency as they tackle litter droppers on busy roads.

TVBC will be handing out car litter bags to encourage motorists not to fling their rubbish out of the window.

The inititiative is part of the council’s ongoing “Love Where You Live” campaign to encourage people to join their team of community litter pickers, arrange community clean-ups and report dirty streets, littering, fly-posting, fly-tipping or graffiti.

Earlier this month, the Highways Agency launched its “Bag It. Bin It” campaign, to raise awareness of rubbish left on motorways and A-roads and to encourage motorists to help keep the county’s roads clean.

It costs at least £6m a year to collect more than 7,500 tonnes of rubbish from England’s roadsides, which last year included a rocking horse, a boat’s mast and various items of furniture, says the agency.

In Test Valley alone, the borough council spends more than £1m each year street cleaning and collecting litter.

Graham Stallard, Test Valley environment spokesman, said: “Not only is clearing roadside litter expensive and dangerous, it can also lead to safety hazards for other road-users, poses a threat to wildlife and blocks drains, which can cause flooding. “Our message to all road-users is to take your litter home with you. To help, we have produced 10,000 car litter bags which are being distributed across the borough.”

The bags can be picked up from service stations across Test Valley. They are also being distributed to businesses and organisations across the borough.

For more information, or to request a bag, visit testvalley. gov.uk/love.

To report litter or environmental issues in Test Valley text “love” to 60060, followed by your message, call 01264 368000, or visit environmentalservice@ testvalley.gov.uk.

To report litter on roads outside the borough, visit highways.gov.uk/litter, or call the Highways Agency, on 0300 123 500.