HOUSEHOLDERS in a borough are set to see its cut price bulky waste collection scheme extended for a further six months after a 'phenomenal' take up.

Burnley Council's executive has agreed to extend the pilot half-price discount until September.

An initial three-month trial scheme, which saw prices cut from £13.80 to £6.90, was due to finish at the end of this month.

It saw its use by residents almost double from 1,190 between October and December to 2,067 collection requests since January.

Now the senior councillors have decided the scheme has been so successful it should be extended until September.

Borough leader Cllr Mark Townsend told Tuesday night's executive meeting: "The success has been phenomenal. Perhaps it is encouraging new people to use the bulky waste service."

Cllr Afrasiab Anwar, the council's environmental services boss, said: "The half-price scheme has been very popular with residents and we've seen a significant increase in requests for the service since the trial period began in January.

"Extending the reduced price scheme further will not only benefit our residents as we start to recover from the impact of Covid-19, it will also give us time to properly assess the initiative on a long-term basis."

The bulky waste service allows residents to book council contractors to take away up to four household items, or one item of white goods such as a fridge or cooker.

Bulky waste collections can be booked online.

The executive's recommendation now need to be rubber stamped by Burnley's next Full Council meeting on April 14.