A councillor's suggestion that prisoners should clear roadside litter has been met with an "absolutely nonsensical" response by Michael Gove’s office.

Cllr Ashley Clark (Con) wrote a letter to the government minister hoping he would agree that convicts should don high-vis jackets and clear waste across the sides of the A2 and Thanet Way.

But the response sent on behalf of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has been blasted as "a joke".

The letter, written by ministerial contact Sherife Tekdal, states that if convicts are used to collect rubbish then an unfair stigma that all volunteer litter-pickers are criminals will be created.

It reads: “It is often recommended that those found guilty of littering should be required to participate in litter‑picking, and we recognise the obvious attraction of making the punishment fit the crime.

“We also want to encourage voluntary and community-led litter-picking activity and do not wish to discourage volunteers by implying that litter-picking is a punishment in itself.

“The use of litter-picking as a sanction in itself must be handled with care, to avoid creating a perception that anyone seen litter-picking must be an offender serving a community sentence, which could deter law-abiding citizens from volunteering to take part in these activities.

“Community payback, previously community service, is therefore best used in circumstances in which volunteers are unlikely to be operating, including tackling issues on private land, or to address persistent or large-scale problems.”

Disappointed Cllr Clark says the response is "pathetic drivel".

"It's utter nonsense to say that volunteers will be degraded if criminals are used to clear litter" - Cllr Ashley Clark

“It’s utter nonsense to say that volunteers will be degraded if criminals are used to clear litter,” he said.

“That will not be the case whatsoever - it’s a rubbish response from them.

“Community payback is a joke as well. They don’t go out when it’s cold and they put no effort in.

"Ten of them do the same amount of work that two hard workers could do in the same space of time.”

Despite citing fears over the idea, Mr Gove’s office say similar proposals will be looked into.

The letter continues: “We will explore opportunities to work with HM Prison and Probation Service to promote activities involving clearing litter and fly-tipped waste, in circumstances in which community volunteers are unlikely to be operating.

“We are clear that formal enforcement action against littering and other environmental offences should only be taken when it is proportionate and in the public interest to do so.”