LITTERBUG drivers are costing North Herts taxpayers thousands of pounds a year. Irresponsible drivers who throw empty food wrappers and drink bottles out of car windows onto the district s roads are diverting much-needed funds from other services, say No

LITTERBUG drivers are costing North Herts taxpayers thousands of pounds a year.

Irresponsible drivers who throw empty food wrappers and drink bottles out of car windows onto the district's roads are diverting much-needed funds from other services, say North Herts District Council.

As the authority begins a major operation to clean up some of those worst affected it estimates the final cost will be over �40,000.

Vaughan Watson, head of environmental services at NHDC, said: "Littering on roads is a major problem in the district. It is not only hazardous for the environment and an eyesore, but also hugely expensive to clean up. Council tax payers are having to foot this unnecessarily bill which could easily be invested in other valued services if motorists would only be responsible and take their litter home with them."

The work on the A505, including stretches between Hitchin and Luton, Baldock and Royston and the Baldock bypass, as well as the A602 Wymondley bypass, is due to be completed in May.