HOUSEHOLDERS in Melksham and Bradford on Avon will have to get rid of their rubbish themselves during Christmas week.

Skips are being taken to the two towns because there will be no proper refuse collection.

West Wiltshire District Council says the towns' collections have had to be scrapped because they fall on bank holidays, but there will be double collections after new year.

All householders will be sent free sacks to store the extra rubbish.

Skips taking only domestic rubbish will be in King Street car park, in Melksham, on December 27, and station car park, in Bradford on Avon, on December 28, from 9am to 4pm.

Collections elsewhere in the district will be later than usual because of the bank holidays.

Cllr Adrian Fox said: "The bank holidays mean we cannot get to everyone during the first week, and we felt it was important that normal collections resume as soon as possible in the new year. We are offering a skip service in Melksham and Bradford on Avon during Christmas week, as well as extra sacks for the following week."

The collection details are:

l Christmas Day and Boxing Day: No collection;

l December 27: Trowbridge and Wingfield;

l December 28: Warminster and villages;

l December 29: Westbury and villages;

l December 30: No collection;

l January 1: No collection;

l January 2: double collection for Bradford on Avon and villages;

l January 3: double collection for Melksham and villages;

l January 4: Trowbridge, Wingfield;

l January 5: Warminster and villages;

l January 6: Westbury and villages.