Car number plates and bottles of urine were among the waste found in a clean-up of one of the county’s busiest roads.

A total three tonnes of rubbish and litter were collected in a two-week blitz along the entire Canterbury district part of the A2.

Contractors also cleared crisp packets, chocolate wrappers and cans and they pulled discarded car bumpers and registration plates from the undergrowth.

Clothes were also found in the deep clean, including a shirt and shoes.

The latest clean-up, which began on October 2 and finished on Friday, was by crews from Canterbury City Council’s waste company Canenco.

One lane was coned off during clear-up times to protect the workers from the high-speed traffic.

The council’s cabinet member for waste and recycling, Cllr Charlotte Cornell, said: “This is back breaking, grim work in a dangerous environment as trucks hurtle by just a few yards away.

“I’m sure our residents will join me in thanking the crews for a job very well done.

“It is, of course, disappointing that we need to spend local taxpayers’ money on this kind of work in the first place.

“Just because you are motoring along the A2, there is no reason to chuck rubbish – or even part of your wardrobe – out of your vehicle.

“There are laybys with bins along the whole road, or rubbish can be saved up until you reach your destination and disposed of responsibly.

“Keeping the district clean is one of our highest priorities.

“Residents can be assured that we will shortly begin looking at possible dates for the next clean up, working in conjunction with the highways authorities, so that we can get out there and do what is required in order to achieve this.”