WEEKLY household waste collections are to return to Blackburn and Darwen after the fortnightly scheme sparked widespread protests.

But the new burgundy bins being introduced by the borough council will only have a capacity of 140litres, instead of the regulation 240litres, to encourage residents to recycle.

The end is also in sight for unpopular green recycling boxes for plastics, cans and glass - which people claimed encouraged rats and maggots to breed.

But opposition councillors have branded the move a £1.3million waste of time, and questioned whether it will help the council achieve its landfill targets.

The existing grey 240-litre bins will be used for recycling plastics, glass and cans in future, which will be picked up on a fortnightly basis.

Around 17,000 households across the borough, which were set to move to fortnightly collections in September, will be the guinea pigs for the new system. The remaining 42,000 properties will revert to weekly collections in two phases - 18,000 in March and then the final 24,000 the following September.

An extra 6,000 brown bins will also be issued to certain properties with larger gardens to help them recycle biodegradable waste.

The move honours an election pledge by Blackburn with Darwen Council's new three-way ruling coalition. Coun Salim Lorgat, executive member for neighbour-hoods, said: "This is what people said that they wanted.

"They told us that they were happy to recycle, but wanted a weekly collection too, which is what we are going to provide."

Peter Hunt, the council's director of environment and regeneration, said: "Overall there will be an increase in cost, but this administration believes that this is a worthwhile investment."

An extra two or three vehicles will be needed for additional rounds generated by a weekly format, which will be crewed by three workers each. But the council's contract with its Darwen-based recycling partner - Greenstar - will need to be renegotiated as the demands of the service change.

Coun Andy Kay, shadow cabinet member for regeneration, said: "It is a foolish move and I don't think people will be conned by this talk of weekly collections.

"It will be done at a horrendous cost. I think when we costed it up we were talking about £900,000 for the extra bins and another £400,000 per year to run the extra collections rounds."