Cambridgeshire County Council's war on kerbside weeds is well underway with more than 440km worth of vegetation treated in just a few weeks. 

The council’s first weed treatment programme began in June across the county and is expected to finish in August. There will be another treatment later in the year.

Chemical weed treatment is applied directly to weeds in the kerb line of the county's roads and footways.

It will typically take about three to five weeks for the treatment to take effect, after this, road sweepers will come along to remove dead weeds.

Earlier this year, at the Highways and Transport Committee, the highways weed treatment programme was reviewed and a survey was sent out to 250 parish, town, city and district councils across Cambridgeshire and 162 responses were received.

The programme began on June 24 and is set include 243 parishes, with the second treatment due to take place in October. 

Chair of the Highways and Transport Committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, Cllr Alex Becket, said: "We have listened to the concerns raised by residents, councillors, district councils and town and parish councils and have taken strong action to make our roads safer and better – with planned chemical treatments now being delivered at least twice a year.

“While some communities really appreciated the reduction in chemical weed killing, a large number did not. We received seven responses from areas who do not wish to be part of the chemical weed treatment programme, so we are working with them on alternative methods. 

“Myself, Cllr Shailer and many other councillors have heard a lot from people about weeds, we’re ready for the battle to commence and we hope to get to the root of the issue – all puns aside, we know how serious this is for residents which is why we have been out with the highways crew to see them in action. We followed them in Milton today, but the team will be making their way around 243 parishes so if we haven’t got to you yet, we will be shortly.

 He added: “We are working hard to deliver safer and better journeys for all – and are proud of the way that we are a listening council. We will keep this programme under review, and if excessive weed growth is reported, we’ll act on this feedback and tackle those areas accordingly.”