LITTERING in Herefordshire is costing taxpayers £1.2 million a year to tidy up.

The figures have been released by the council ahead of their Stop the drop' campaign which will see seven teams of volunteers cleaning the county's highways armed with 200 bags ready to fill.

Councillor Paul Rone, portfolio holder for highways, paid tribute to the county’s army of litter pickers.

He said: “It is hugely heartening to see groups of people of all ages and backgrounds coming together to show their pride in their community. They are real unsung heroes."

Herefordshire Council’s public realm contractor Balfour Beatty Living Places (BBLP) are providing litter picking kits for the do-it-yourself heroes including black bags, litter pickers, gloves, bag holding hoops and hi-viz waistcoats.

Cllr Rone condemned those who drop litter in the county causing such a large bill.

He added:“It’s thoughtless, selfish and ruins shared spaces for everyone.

“Some people mistakenly think if they pay their taxes they have the right just to chuck stuff on the ground for others to dispose of.

"But they don’t, tax revenues are for vital services like schools and helping vulnerable people. Not to waste on waste.

“We have to change our attitudes, and we have to change them as quickly as we can, and rid ourselves of this unnecessary scourge to our local communities.

“The only sustainable solution to the litter problem is to persuade the litterbugs to stop messing up the country, we cannot just keep cleaning up their rubbish indefinitely, only for it constantly to reappear.”

For more information on the litter campaign visit www.herefordshire.gov.uk/stopthedrop.

BBLP supports community litter picks and to request a kit, call 01432 261800.