I AM saddened and concerned by the amount of litter that is covering the verges of so many of central Scotland's roads – many of which cross beautiful countryside.

Last week whilst driving north from Irvine on the A736 and then across the Gleniffer Braes to Paisley I noticed there was hardly an un-littered section of grass verge along both sides of the entire 20-mile stretch of this route. This situation is the same along so many roads and even worse along the edges of urban motorways.

I cannot understand the mentality of the many people who chuck out so much of their rubbish from vehicles on to the roadsides.

Should a campaign to raise awareness of the high environmental cost of this thoughtless action not be strongly promoted, with increased policing and high fines to perpetrators be introduced?

Charles Hamilton,

Morven, Park Road, Kilmacolm.