THE people of Spring Street, Rishton, have only just recently got wheelie bins, and are well into the routine of putting them out once a fortnight and recyclable waste every other fortnight.

On Monday, September 27, it was the turn of the wheelie bins to be emptied.

So I put my bin in the back alley next to my back gate about 11pm on Sunday.

On Monday I returned home from work at about 6.15pm to find my bin at the side of my house still full of rubbish.

I was a little concerned because Hyndburn Council is having a major crackdown on people leaving rubbish in the back alleys. I know because I have received an on the spot £50 fine in the past.

First thing Tuesday I was on the phone to the refuse department to ask why they had not emptied my bin.

The girl on the other end of the phone said she would get the inspector to speak to the bin lorry crew to find out.

She said that she would put it down as a missed collection and it would be emptied within 48 hours.

I was talking to one of the mechanics from the garage opposite my house and he told me that one of the bin crew had moved my bin for the lorry to get down the back alley and then just forgot about my bin.

I rang the refuse department back to let them know exactly what had happened and was told even though it was the bin crew's fault, it would still be done within 48 hours.

Around about noon that day I was on my way out in the car when I spotted a bin lorry parked at the top of the road outside a butty shop. When I arrived home, the bin was still full.

First thing Thursday a bin lorry went passed my house, so I gave it 10 minutes and went to check. Guess what? Bin still full. I rang the refuse department again. The girl on the phone said that she would pass it on to an inspector .

Now, with everything that the council is saying about people leaving rubbish lying around and fining people for doing so, you would think that they would want to lead by example. Not this council.

It's now 7.25pm Thursday night and my bin is still full. I wish I could fine them.

F MORAN (Mr), Spring Street, Rishton.