A GROUP of Marsh residents have hit out at Kirklees Council's refusal to collect bins from a lane behind their homes.

People living on Virginia Road say the council has failed to empty their green recycling bins consistently over the past two years.

The bins are supposed to be collected once a month.

The council says the unadopted track where bins are left is unsafe for vehicles because of ruts.

Halfway down, the track disappears among overgrown plants.

Council cleansing officers say the rough surface it is unsuitable for refuse workers to pull bins over.

The council also says residents had been blocking access with parked cars.

It has told residents neither green or grey bins will be collected from the lane until the surface is improved.

Instead, residents will have to leave their bins for collection at the front of their homes or at the ends of the unadopted road on Wellfield Road or Heywood Avenue.

Mr Mudiwa Zinyowera and his neighbours say these reasons are not good enough.

He said: "Putting bins at the front of properties is unsightly. The grey bin is collected on a weekly basis. There has never been a problem with this bin. It's the same lane."

He added that it would be difficult for old people to drag their bins to Wellfield Road or Heywood Avenue.

A council spokeswoman explained why grey bins had been collected and not green bins.

She said: "Local motorists remember to move cars for weekly grey collection, but not as regularly for the monthly green collection."

She added: "Neither the green or the grey bin crews will be using the private road until it is made safe.

"The road is owned privately by those who live along it. The householders must get together to pay for the work to make the road safe."

She said the council would reply to Mr Zinyowera personally.