RESIDENTS in Malmesbury were annoyed after rubbish was left outside their homes last week.

People living in Pool Gastons, Corn Gastons, Parklands and White Lion Park were left with unsightly black rubbish bags after refuse collectors only cleared part of the town on their rounds on Wednesday morning.

Rubbish was found strewn across the streets after bags were torn open by dogs.

John Isted, of Pool Gaston said: "Most of the rubbish is put out on Tuesday night but the rubbish was not picked up until Thursday evening. With increases in the council taxes you expect something to be done about it."

Mr Isted said he had contacted the council and was told the problem arose after a truck broke down.

But refuse collectors who started to pick up the rubbish said there was not the staff to cover when operatives were off sick.

One collector, Andrew Weston, of Pewsham, said: "The council has brought it on themselves. Morale at the depot is at an all time low. We do not have the staff to cover sickness."

Yesterday, the council admitted the delay in collection was caused when one of the loaders on the refuse crew covering Malmesbury was taken ill and was taken off the round.

A council spokesman said it was conducting a review of its waste and recycling service.