Contractors have been criticised after litter dumped along a main road was shredded by grass-cutters.

The workers were employed by Kent County Council to trim the verges running along one side of the Old Thanet Way between Whitstable and Herne Bay.

But when ecological surveyor Steven Foreman was travelling to the shops on Monday afternoon, he was shocked to see mangled drinks cans, bottles and takeaway packets lying among the grass cuttings.

“It’s left so much plastic in the area; it’s just terrible,” said the 47-year-old.

Canterbury City Council, which is responsible for the litter picks, says the authority collects the refuse after the verges have been cut to save time and money.

“There is no perfect solution to this,” spokesman Rob Davies said.

If you litter pick before the verge is cut, it’s impossible to get everything due to the height and thickness of the undergrowth, so you end up going back out again afterwards to pick up what’s left, thus spending twice the time and money.

“We take the view that, on balance, it makes more sense to go and do it just the once, as quickly as possible afterwards. This is currently being arranged and people can expect to see the crews out in the near future.”

But Mr Foreman fears this could detrimentally impact local wildlife and mean the cuttings cannot be composted because they are laced with litter.

“Seeing stuff like this is enraging because people aren’t looking after the wildlife and environment,” he added.

The litter was shredded on the stretch from Greenhill to Whitstable last Monday, October 8.

A spokesman for the county council said: "KCC is not responsible for litter picking, this is a responsibility for Canterbury City Council.

"While we endeavour not to shred litter, this is sometimes, unfortunately, inevitable.”

Gorrell councillor Ashley Clark suggested in August carrying out litter picks along the Thanet Way and A2 during the autumn and winter months.

“All the litter picks seem to be carried out when the leaves are on the trees and bushes, and that’s when you can’t see it,” he said.