Sir – We can always tell when we approach Oxford, one of the great cities of the UK. The litter on the A34 and A418 and on all the roundabouts and junctions around Oxford is truly awful and, I believe, the worst in the UK.

There appears to be no pride in the surroundings and many cities in the North and West are substantially better.

The litter on the verges and laybys is rarely, if ever, picked up, and what you witness is months or years of careless disposal. The litter encourages a sense that it doesn’t matter. Bins in laybys do not help as they are not emptied often enough and are overflowing.

Open-back vehicles accidentally drop polythene and other items (a requirement for all vehicles that are open to have nets would prevent this).

Strict fines should be implemented on the culprits who do it deliberately and on a daily basis which is apparent by the same chip container and fizzy drink container on the same country road, no matter how often one removes it. The right to have a car carries responsibilities and one of them is to dispose of any litter in a bin and not on the roadside.

Fines and points on your licence would give a real incentive.

Fines imposed on the suppliers of take-away food should be considered, or a yearly charge on all takeaway venues to pay for the clear-up. Petrol stations who benefit from the trade are one of the worst culprits: have a look around any garage forecourts.

Richard Blandy, Aylesbury