Ref. 25945_11RESIDENTS in a block of flats waited three weeks for their rubbish to be cleared away after fly- tippers dumped a bed, fridge, cooker and a motorbike in a space reserved for household waste.

Swindon Council has now cleared the mess away, but not until Allington Road resident Andy Ryan contacted the Evening Advertiser.

Residents put their household rubbish bags in a room at the back of the Penhill council flats. But fly-tippers had made it impossible for rubbish collectors to get into the shelter to dispose of the waste.

Unemployed Mr Ryan, 53, said: "We cannot live like this, it is disgusting.

"Every now and again we get a letter from the council asking us to put the rubbish in the bags provided but when the rubbish lorry turns up and the binmen see the state of the rubbish, they just turn round again.

"It has not been emptied for more than three weeks and is starting to smell. I don't blame the dustmen because they can't get to the rubbish. It's a health and safety issue though."

Gavin Calthrop of Swindon Council said: "The rubbish has been fully cleared away now. The metal was removed by a scrap merchant, but non-household rubbish presents a problem for the cleansing team. The cleansing team's round is only able to deal with household rubbish not beds and motorbikes."

Fly-tipping is a criminal offence and offenders face a possible £20,000 fine and up to three years in jail if caught.

In the last 18 months two prosecutions have been brought by the Environment Agency on behalf of the council.

A number of items are now considered special waste, which has to be disposed of according to certain rules. These include motor oil, electrical items and circuit boards from home computers.

Fridges are another major problem, with certain parts of them being described as special waste. Swindon Council currently charges £15 to remove fridges, with the price falling from £30 a year ago. Swindon Services charges £5 to take away up to three bulky items. Almost all household waste can be taken for recycling at the Barnfield Road tip, which is open seven days a week from 8am to 6pm.

Fly-tipping incidents can be reported to Swindon Services on Swindon 463463.