A CABINET maker who is on a mission to rid Britain of rubbish has been warned that his clean-up campaign could be ‘highly dangerous’.

Self-styled ‘professional litter picker’ Simon Owens, 50, from Sturminster Newton, plans to raise £10,000 to clear up rubbish over a three-month period.

But he has been told that only highly trained staff should pick litter on high-speed roads.

The advice comes just weeks after 1.8 tonnes of rubbish were cleared from the side of the Spur Road during five nights at a cost of £10,000.

The most prominent item recently abandoned by the roadside was a fully-built greenhouse, minus the glass, just past Blackwater junction, on the northbound carriageway of the A338.

Simon, who has posted video footage of rubbish discarded along the A338 online, now intends to make a documentary about the problem in the hope it will inspire people to change their ways.

 

He said: “The amount of litter that lines our roadsides, pollutes our rivers and kills our wildlife is shocking.

“Recently I collected 1,100 aluminium cans in 16 hours around Dorset and the New Forest.

“The aim of this project is to improve the look of our beautiful landscape, but most importantly to ask people to please stop littering.

“The consequences of dumping waste and throwing cans from car windows are much deeper than just being unsightly.”

Steve Burdis, director of Dorset Waste Partnership, said: “We appreciate Mr Owens’ enthus-iasm for keeping our country beautiful and we actively support community clean-ups.

“However, it would be highly dangerous to try to pick litter on high speed roads.

“This is strictly controlled by legislation and requires specialist health and safety measures and equipment. Mr Owens has been in contact to discuss his proposals.

“If he is doing this in safe, community areas we wish him well.”