If successful, the trial could make in-roads towards tacking the 500,000 disused tyres shipped out of the UK every year to landfill sites in the Middle East and Asia.

Up to 750 rubber tyres could be used in every kilometre of road surfaced with the new asphalt material. The surfacing has been developed by Tarmac and was laid between junctions 23 and 22 on the southbound carriageway of the M1.

Highways England corporate group leader Martin Bolt said: “This trial could well be the first step to rapidly reducing the number of tyres piling up in the UK and beyond. The economic and environmental potential of this new asphalt is significant.”

Tarmac managing director Paul Fleetham added: “As a previously overlooked waste stream, used tyres offer a significant opportunity to unlock the benefits of a circular economy.

"There has been a very positive response to our rubberised asphalt since the first local authority trial was announced in May and we’re very pleased to be working with Highways England to explore its potential to support the sustainability of the strategic road network."

Earlier this year the material was laid in Coventry. The city council’s senior engineer Rob Little said: “We are proud to be leading in providing road surfaces which are providing significant environmental benefits for our communities.”

(Photograph: Highways England)