Shopping trolley and roof rack among rubbish collected in huge Northamptonshire main road clear-up

A shopping trolley, roof rack and discarded car parts were among the rubbish recovered from the A14 in Northamptonshire during a major roadside clear-up.

National Highways teams collected 127 bags of litter from verges and the central reservation between Rothwell and Kettering, alongside larger objects including tyres, bumpers and pallets.

The work was carried out during overnight road closures already scheduled for maintenance along the busy route, allowing crews to reach areas difficult to access safely during daytime traffic.

Teams had been working over the summer to clean and upgrade drains, repair safety barriers and replace street lighting.

With support from contractor Galliford Try, they also collected litter on behalf of North Northamptonshire Council, which is normally responsible for clearing rubbish along that stretch.

Much of what they found was everyday waste, including disposable coffee cups, takeaway packaging, drinks cans, bottles and plastic shopping bags.

But crews also recovered door panels, hubcaps, HGV mudflaps, clothing, shoes, scrap fabric, shrink wrapping and five-litre plastic containers.

The shopping trolley and roof rack were among the more unusual finds, highlighting the variety of items left beside the carriageway.

Lewis Tooley, project manager at National Highways, said: “No-one wants to see litter strewn along the roadside. It’s unsightly, and a threat to the environment and wildlife.”

He said combining litter picking with existing closures helped teams work safely without creating additional disruption for motorists.

“Undertaking this litter picking during already planned road closures means our teams can clean up the roadside safely and efficiently while other works are taking place. And reduces disruption for road users in the long run.”

Mr Tooley said both National Highways and the council were working to tackle roadside rubbish, but stressed that preventing littering was preferable to having to remove it.

He added: “We urge all road users to take their litter home with them and dispose of it responsibly.”

National Highways said it would continue working with North Northamptonshire Council to identify further opportunities for safe litter clearance along the A14 and A45.

Routine maintenance closures also provided opportunities to remove rubbish from otherwise hard-to-reach stretches of road.