A NEW report published by Keep Britain Tidy reveals that thoughtless “tossers” could be killing up to 3.2 million shrews, voles and mice every year.

The study looked at litter along roadsides and in lay-bys and found that more than eight per cent of bottles and almost five per cent of the cans collected contained the remains of some of our smallest and most rare native mammals, common shrews, pygmy shrews, bank voles and wood mice.

These animals are an essential part of our wildlife heritage and form a vital part of the food chain, eating insects and plants and acting as prey for other animals and rare birds like owls and kestrels.

Keep Britain Tidy ambassador, naturalist and TV presenter Chris Packham said: “We have all seen the impact of littered plastic bottles on our marine environment in recent months. Now, thanks to this research, we know it is killing millions of the small mammals that are a vital source of food for our native birds of prey.

“It is time for everyone to take responsibility for their rubbish. If you care about our country and its wildlife don’t be a ‘tosser’.”

Keep Britain Tidy’s new campaign is aimed at those motorists who thoughtlessly throw rubbish from their vehicles with a blunt message “Don’t be a Tosser”.

In April, new regulations come into force that will make it easier to councils to fine those who throw rubbish from their cars by allowing them to issue a penalty charge notice to the registered keeper of the vehicle, regardless of who actually threw the litter.

Research by Keep Britain Tidy shows that many of those who throw rubbish from their car do it because they feel anonymous while in their vehicle and “safe” from judgement by fellow road users.