Thousands of objects removed from major motorways and A-roads as drivers caught clogging up streets

Among the most unusual discoveries were a boat abandoned on the A42 near Measham in Leicestershire and a fairground ride dumped on the M180 near Scunthorpe.

The abandoned boat was found in July, sitting on a damaged trailer beside a slip road, while the fairground ride was discovered in September on a grass verge.

Both objects were so large that specialist teams were required to remove them safely from the road network. Traffic officer Cat Martin, who discovered the boat with her colleague Dave Wilkinson, said she was shocked by the sight.

She said: "It was a real surprise to see something of that size beside a slip road. It distracted drivers and could have caused a serious accident."

Despite attempts to trace the owner, nobody came forward to claim the boat.

"You would think someone would be missing their boat, but we were unable to find the owner, so it was taken to the scrapyard once it was safely removed," she added.

While the boat and fairground ride were the most unusual finds, most of the objects removed by traffic officers were far more common. Construction and building materials were the biggest category, accounting for 9,685 incidents.

Vehicle parts were the second most frequent, with 8,565 recoveries, followed by 4,606 tyres. Officers also dealt with 3,575 household and garden items, 3,087 dead animals, and 797 abandoned vehicles.

Other items recovered from live carriageways included sofas, storage boxes, bicycles, and even Christmas trees. National Highways said that many of these incidents require lane closures or full road closures while items are safely removed.

This causes delays and disruption for motorists, while also putting the officers carrying out the clearances at risk. The figures do not include the large amounts of litter and food waste that are dumped along England’s roads every year, which adds to the problem.

The M6 motorway was the worst-affected route, with 5,605 obstruction incidents recorded, representing more than 11 per cent of the total.

The M1 followed closely with 5,175 incidents. The M25 recorded 3,626 incidents, while the M5 and M62 recorded 3,559 and 2,647 incidents, respectively.

By region, the North West recorded the highest number of obstructions, with 9,795 items recovered. The South East recorded 8,733, and the East of England recorded 8,357. Other badly affected routes included the M4, A1(M), M40, M60, and M3.

Marie Biddulph, Regional Safety Programme Manager at National Highways, warned that abandoned items are a real danger to drivers.

She said: "Items left on or beside our roads can seriously endanger motorists. Removing these objects often requires lane or road closures, which causes disruption for everyone on the network."

She added that drivers themselves must take responsibility. "The solution is simple. Make sure you dispose of unwanted items in the correct way, and always secure your load before setting off on a journey. Doing this can prevent collisions and stop our roadsides from being ruined by dumped items," she said.

National Highways emphasised that the risks posed by abandoned objects are not just about inconvenience. Large items, such as boats or fairground rides, can cause serious accidents if drivers swerve to avoid them.

Even smaller objects like tyres or household goods can damage vehicles and create hazardous situations. Officers continue to work every day to keep roads safe, but they rely on drivers to act responsibly.

In total, the figures underline the scale of the problem on England's roads. Every item left behind has the potential to cause harm or disruption. By securing loads properly and disposing of waste correctly, drivers can play a direct role in keeping roads safer for everyone.