RUBBISH collectors have been criticised for leaving bins strewn all over the pavement, causing problems for residents.

And Blackburn with Darwen Council bosses have apologised to residents after the issue was raised.

People living near Preston New Road complained after several weeks of contractors blocking the pavements by leaving bins in the way of people trying to get by.

A concerned Preston New Road resident said: “I’ve noticed over the last few week the bin guys just leaving the bins all over the pavement after they’ve emptied them.

“We have blind people around here – how are they supposed to negotiate these bins?

“Also mums and dads with prams and people in wheelchairs in mobility scooters either have to go into the road or they’ve got to move all the bins out of the way.

“It’s just laziness from the bin men – they need to put the bins back properly.”

The stretch of road towards Preston from the BP garage to St Silas' Church was particularly affected this week.

The resident added: "These pictures were taken on Monday morning on the day of collection. It happens every time on both bin collections - red and recycling."

Tony Watson, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s head of environment, said: “We apologise to any residents in this area who have experienced obstruction from wheelie bins.

“We have reminded our contractor of the need to leave pavements and streets unobstructed after bins have been emptied.”

Last year, council scrutiny committee members mooted a move from the current three-bin regime to four bins each - with one for garden waste, one for paper and card, one for plastic and glass and one for general waste.

The contract for bin collections is due to go out to tender in the near future with the current deal due to run out in April 2020.

Labour bosses made the unexpected decision to scrap weekly bin collections in 2016.

The council announced that it was moving to alternate weekly collections of household rubbish and recycling in a bid to improve recycling rates and reduce the costs of refuse disposal as well as refuse collection.

And charges for its garden waste collection scheme were brought in the following year.