A fortnightly rubbish collection scheme implemented by Hertsmere Borough Council has come under attack from residents whose bins have become infested by flies and maggots.

The borough has had a two week cycle of collections since October, in which rubbish is collected one week and recycling the other.

But the recent warm weather has seen several residents wake up to find their rubbish covered with maggots and smelling badly.

Mike Jackson, of Vernon Road in Bushey, said: "There are flies all round the side of my house where the wheely bins are - it is absolutely disgusting.

"I just phoned the council to ask what can be done and I had to speak to a very stroppy lady.

"She said that I can pay to have the bins cleaned, but the moment it is cleaned we put rubbish back in the bin and the flies come back."

Mr Jackson has also had problems with his black box, used to collect tins and plastics. The boxes were deliberately designed with no lid to maximise the amount residents could recycle.

"We have two dogs and three cats in the house and we get through up to five tins a day and I rinse them out but like the council say, but I'm not going to scrape them out - I don't see why I have to.

"Residents are going to have to give up work to wash tins and clean bins."

At the time of publication a representative from Hertsmere Borough Council was unavailable to comment.

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