THANK you for the opportunity to vent my rage and frustration at all those responsible for the appalling state of our verges and roadsides.

What has happened? I am in my 60s (yes, yes, boring old fart) and was brought up during a period when to drop litter costs one’s parents £5 plus the shame and disgrace if caught. So we didn’t do it. It was drummed into us at school as well. I could no more throw anything anywhere but in the bin then fly to the moon.

We seem to have degenerated into a race of couldn’t care lesser and I don’t give a damn about anyone else. The most amazing sight is a neatly tied plastic bag dumped in the side of the road, more so when there is a bin not 20 yards away. It’s disgusting.

The authorities always say, “We are doing something about it,” but it just gets worse and nothing changes.

I despair to see our once lovely country so despoiled and degraded. We may as well be in the 3rd world, not a member of Europe, where people respect their environment and that of others.

I’m sure there is a Rubbish Tsar. Where is he/she? I hope they are not being paid for doing nothing.

Judy Fowler, Lambourne Close, Thruxton.