If you've thought about storing some of your hay or silage on the road verge, think again: Ashburton District Council is urging residents to keep their bales on their own side of the fence as they can be a dangerous obstruction for motorists.

Infrastructure Services Group Manager, Neil McCann says each year Council receives reports of the illegal activity happening and this season has been no different.

"It's a dangerous ​situation. Not only are the bales often encroaching on the roadway where they can obstruct driver vision or get hit, but in some cases the bales have been getting wrapped and prepared on the road itself which is very unsafe.

"If you are in the roadway stacking these heavy bales, you could be taking a very big risk with your own or someone else's life. Please keep bales on your property."