WINDOW height bins will be installed in the M6 Lymm services next week in a bid to keep motorways cleaner.

Drivers are being encouraged to throw rubbish out of their windows into the bright orange bins which have been designed so drivers do not have to leave their vehicles. 

The bins are at vehicle window height and with one version for HGVs (2.2m high with a 120 litre capacity) and one version for cars (1.85m high with an 80 litre capacity). 

Further funnel bins will be installed for both cars and lorries at 25 service stations in the north west in the coming weeks.

A Highways England spokesman added: "An initial 10-week trial was held at Winchester service area on the M3 last year.

"The litter collected in the five weeks after the funnel bin installation versus the litter collected before showed a 25 per cent reduction in litter on the ground within the service area.

"The funnel bins make it easier for drivers to dispose of their litter responsibly without the need to get out of their vehicle.

"We are currently working with Moto Services to install funnel bins at service areas across the north west of England.

"The first four bins will be installed at Lymm Service area on the M6 next week.

"These are the larger funnel bins, for HGV use, as this service is used by a large number of HGVs."

More than 40,000 sacks of litter were collected from motorways in the north west last year - an average of 108 sacks for every mile of motorway.

But Clean Up Britain founder John Read has reportedly hit out at the move describing the funnel bins as a 'low-cost gimmick'.

He added getting people to throw their litter out of the car window was 'exactly the behaviour they are trying to stop.’