Neighbourhood action groups are asking people not to throw rubbish out of their cars or leave supermarket trolleys in 'weird and wonderful places’.

Nigel Dumbrell, vice-chairman of the Harmans Water & The Parks, Martin’s Heron & The Warren Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG), said this week that he might have organised his last litter pick.

He said: “Within 24 hours the rubbish is all back again on the pavements and in the streets and hedges. It is a losing battle and I am not sure that I want to bother again.

“I have witnessed children throwing litter on the pavements and their parents say and do nothing about it.

“It is a terrible legacy for the environment.” Mr Dumbrell said: “From now on my partner and I will clear the road between the A329 and Martin’s Heron railway bridge.” He added Tesco had agreed to clear rubbish from outside their store and into Whitton Road.

Mr Dumbrell and fellow NAG members, along with Tesco staff, collected 14 bags of rubbish in the Martin’s Heron area on one day in a litter pick last month. Nappies, tissues, needles, glass and black sacks of rubbish are among the many items thrown out of car windows while the vehicles are moving along the borough’s main roads.

Mr Dumbrell said beer drinkers are among the worst culprits “judging by the number of bottles and cans we find discarded on the grass verges and in hedges”.

Hotspots for litter include the A329 and A322 roads, he added.

It was the NAG’s second litter pick this year and another is planned for Christmas with the help of youngsters from The Wayz youth group in Harmans Water.

Mr Dumbrell added that “people who take away supermarket trolleys and dump them are a growing menace”.

He said he had witnessed irresponsible shoppers lifting filled trolleys over restrictive barriers.

He warned that the costs involved stolen trolleys – each costing about £100 – are inevitably passed on to customers.

The retail industry has a rehoming service if people find discarded trolleys. People can call the nationwide TrolleyWise line on 0800 316 1241.