DRIVERS caught in a queue created by a convoy of five works vans were astonished when they passed the scene to find no roadworks but only two men picking litter.

The operation involved a total of seven men, four safety trucks and the workers’ own vehicle.

Drivers on the A35 dual carriageway near Poole passed four high-visibility vehicles indicating the lane ahead was closed as well as the litter pickers’ van itself.

Purbeck District Council said it was simply complying with the present laws to “maximise the safety of the workforce”.

It said that private contractors were employed to help carry out the “leansing” work but confirmed seven “operatives” partook and all the vehicles’ engines were running.

Motorist Dean Simpson, 28, said: “As I saw the first safety vehicles saying that the lane ahead was closed I assumed there would be roadworks.

“Then there were another three vans doing the same and I thought that these roadworks must be quite urgent to have so many warnings.

“Then as I passed I saw two blokes in the verge in yellow vests bagging litter – and they had a van too.

“The waste is extraordinary when the country is broke.”

Neil Randall, principal officer for waste management, could not put a figure on how much the operation cost but said it was part of the overall contract price.

He said: “When deploying staff to work on dual carriageways we are required by law to abide by Chapter eight of the Traffic Signs Manual 2006.

“This refers to the setting up of traffic management to ensure the safety of operatives working in an environment where they are likely to encounter vehicles moving at speeds in excess of 70 mph.

“For us not to undertake these precautions would not only be illegal but would put the safety of the operatives at risk.

“The vehicles that are protecting the staff have to be manned at all times as they move forward as the litter picking progresses.

“This may appear to the casual observer as ‘overkill’ – however if you ]had to stand on the hard shoulder of a dual carriageway with vehicles travelling at 70mph or faster I’m sure that you would appreciate the dangers involved.”