REFUSE and recycling collections have been disrupted due to the cold weather, with landfill tips closed and 26 tonne refuse vehicles unable to access many rural areas last week.

REFUSE and recycling collections have been disrupted due to the cold weather, with landfill tips closed and 26 tonne refuse vehicles unable to access many rural areas last week.

The matter has been made worse because some areas have not had the collection they would normally expect because of the Christmas collection schedule.

Paul Deakin, East Devon District Council's Waste and Recycling Manager, said:

"Unfortunately we are aware that, for a number of households, it means their waste has not been emptied on more than one occasion.

"We ask residents to bear with us and to put out their waste on the next collection day. As the cold snap may continue the situation is being reviewed daily and, if the icy weather continues, emergency measures may have to be considered.

"We reviewed the situation...(last Friday)...and felt the best option was to abandon the Christmas schedule and revert to the normal collection days, which we hope will get collections back on track for the future. We have attempted to clear some of the backlog but there is a restriction on the number of vehicles that are available."

For more information go to www.eastdevon.gov.uk.