Rubbish more than 20 years old found along the A47

A Coke can from 2004 is among the vast amount of litter collected by Mark Fishpool

A volunteer litter-picker who has been cleaning laybys along the A47 has found rubbish that has been there for more than two decades.

Mark Fishpool has been cleaning up along the A47 near Peterborough for 18 months, and he said the amount of litter there was "disgraceful".

Mr Fishpool, 68, said the area had been neglected for years.

"The litter has blown into the undergrowth and the wooded area about 100ft back from the road," he said.

Mark Fishpool says he would welcome help cleaning up along the A47

Mr Fishpool, who ran a building business before he retired, said he noticed the city was looking dirty and he wanted to "make a positive difference".

On Sunday, on his regular litter-pick between Wansford and Sutton, he collected more than 20 bags of rubbish.

"It's a section of road that has been neglected for many years," he said.

"There are crisp packets, drink cans with a date of 2004... so it shows the amount of litter over the years, and it makes it a hard job to clean.

"There's plastic, tin cans and all sorts blown into the woods, and there are so many animals... and it's all around where they live."

He added: "I also find a lot of discarded traffic signage, bollards and sandbags, and it is an absolute nightmare."

Mark Fishpool collects an average of about 20 bags of litter every time he goes out

He said he would welcome some fellow volunteers to join him.

"I have been out every morning. Once you start... you just keep coming back to do more," he said.

"It's thin on the ground, unfortunately, so I would love for more people to join me.

"People driving by are hooting and waving at me. Sometimes I get a 'You are doing a lovely job' shout-out – it's gratifying to see and spurs me on."

Mark Fishpool is calling on the authorities to carry out regular cleaning in laybys