DRIVERS who throw litter on the M60 are being warned they face fines.

Highway chiefs have issued the threat after more than 1,300 bags of litter were collected on the 18-mile stretch of the carriageway currently being turned into a Smart motorway.

The £208M project is running from junction eight of the M60 to junction 20 at the M62, enforcing a 50mph speed limit, and has targeted a completion date of autumn 2017.

The rubbish was collected on the motorways over a four-week period while sections had been closed overnight to demolish overhead gantries, as well as at other times of the day when tidying work could be carried out safely.

Paul Hampson, project manager at Highway England, said: "Litter thrown from moving vehicles can cause accidents as well as block drains and create a threat to wildlife.

"It also puts the safety of workers collecting it at risk of being struck by passing vehicles.

"We spend millions of pounds on collecting litter from England's motorways and major A roads every year - money we'd much rather spend on improving the network.

"We're therefore urging drivers to keep a rubbish bag in their vehicle so we can get on with the job of upgrading the motorway."

Motorists face a fine of £50 for litter-dropping, which could lead to a fine of £2,500 for a second offence or failure to pay the penalty notice.