SIR, Various comments over the recent months seem to suggest that an independent Scotland could be more like Norway and therefore much better, but they do not mention that Norway has true independence by being outwith the EU.

Life is certainly not all roses in Norway, very high taxes but one reason, and no matter where one is, the grass can appear to be greener on the other side of the fence, or border.

However, Norway is remarkably free of litter which we here in Scotland and rest of the UK should emulate! This is nothing to do with party politics, governments etc. it all comes down to us as individuals.

There is a lot we can do to make our local area better ourselves as individuals, and indeed throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK, if we all picked up litter within a mile or so of our homes.

I just bagged 89 coke cans thrown over a 200-feet long section of stone dyke by the edge of Dreva woods and therefore hidden from view - thrown out of passing cars, no doubt, over a period of time. That is in addition to all the more visible coke cans and rubbish which I pick from our general area.

A payment system for returned clean coke cans and plastic bottles would be a useful measure to reduce litter, if affordable to implement.

The Peebles end of the B712 Stobo road is a disgrace, especially for a rural area, and hopefully people living nearer to that end of the road will be able to keep on top of the litter problem there.

People who drop litter, should ask themselves as to why do they drop their litter. By not dropping litter, we can truly become more like Norway!

I am, etc.

Name and address withheld SIR, Various comments over the recent months seem to suggest that an independent Scotland could be more like Norway and therefore much better, but they do not mention that Norway has true independence by being outwith the EU.

Life is certainly not all roses in Norway, very high taxes but one reason, and no matter where one is, the grass can appear to be greener on the other side of the fence, or border.

However, Norway is remarkably free of litter which we here in Scotland and rest of the UK should emulate! This is nothing to do with party politics, governments etc. it all comes down to us as individuals.

There is a lot we can do to make our local area better ourselves as individuals, and indeed throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK, if we all picked up litter within a mile or so of our homes.

I just bagged 89 coke cans thrown over a 200-feet long section of stone dyke by the edge of Dreva woods and therefore hidden from view - thrown out of passing cars, no doubt, over a period of time. That is in addition to all the more visible coke cans and rubbish which I pick from our general area.

A payment system for returned clean coke cans and plastic bottles would be a useful measure to reduce litter, if affordable to implement.

The Peebles end of the B712 Stobo road is a disgrace, especially for a rural area, and hopefully people living nearer to that end of the road will be able to keep on top of the litter problem there.

People who drop litter, should ask themselves as to why do they drop their litter. By not dropping litter, we can truly become more like Norway!

I am, etc.

Name and address withheld