WALLISDOWN Road is one of the busiest major routes in Bournemouth or Poole.

But it also holds another accolade – as one of the area’s most badly littered.

Pictures captured by the Daily Echo show the grass verges have become a dumping ground for waste including cans, plastic bottles and wrappers for fast food.

Much of the rubbish has been chucked on the ground next to bus stops along the road.

Council officials say food packaging will be blown into the sea, where it will remain for hundreds of years.

And drivers have criticised the “disgusting” mess, with one saying: “It’s absolutely horrible to see something like this.”

Councillor Felicity Rice, BCP Council cabinet member for the environment and climate change, said big corporations hold as much responsibility as those who throw litter out of car windows or dump it as they wait for buses.

“Really, I think what we want to see is businesses creating far less rubbish in the first place,” she said.

“I think that’s one of the biggest issues we face.”

The official said other countries offer money in exchange for cans, meaning materials which can be recycled or reused are less likely to be discarded.

“Rather than chucking things onto the street, it would be far better for a system like this to exist,” she said.

“I think something like that would have a dramatic difference.

“Of course, we’d all prefer it if people took their rubbish home with them and got rid of it properly. It’d be much better for society generally.”

A spokesperson from BCP Council said: “We are keen to keep our streets clean and litter free for residents so that our towns are pleasant for all to enjoy.

“Rubbish left out in the open is a particular hazard for wildlife, because much of the food packaging is plastic, where it may mistakenly be eaten by birds.

“It will ultimately get blown and washed into our sea, where it will remain for hundreds of years.

“This plastic may also get broken down into smaller bits, which can then be eaten by fish, which, as humans we then eat – adding toxic chemicals into our own food chain.

“As a fishing community, this is an incredibly important issue.

“Ultimately, as a council, we will be proactively working with businesses to reduce the amount of plastic used as packaging in the first place.”