WHAT was meant to be a way of helping to clear up the verges of a Hampshire road has led to a row between a Hampshire council leader and highways bosses.

Highway Agency officials have given Hampshire County Council boss Roy Perry a rap over the knuckles after he complained to them about the amount of litter left strewn along the A36.

He and a team of helpers removed 10 sacks of rubbish in less than an hour on the Government backed Keep Britain Tidy national Community Clear Up Day from verges along the A36 trunk road.

But when Cllr Perry complained to the agency about the litter strewn verges and asked for action to be taken he got a rap across the knuckles for his DIY work.

A Highways Agency’s official responded in a letter, which read: “I have some concerns regarding your actions on the A36.

“If you had consulted the Highways Agency prior to the event, although we would not want to appear unsympathetic to the litter picking initiative and have no power to stop you, we would not have advised walking along the verge at this location for safety reasons.”