PENSIONER John Wood has got ringing in his ears -- after spending two days trying to phone council cleansing chiefs.

Retired plasterer John says he has tried to contact the cleansing department at Blackburn with Darwen Council more than two dozen times in the past two days in a bid to solve a muddle with his refuse collection.

But he claims that the line is permanently engaged.

And in the meantime, he says that confused residents in his street are putting their bins out at the wrong time -- just days after the council issued a warning that it would send out snatch-squads to grab unclaimed bins.

John, 70, from Downham Street, said: "We used to have our bins collected on a Wednesday. Then, a couple of weeks ago, we got a leaflet pushed through the door saying the collection would be on Monday. Then the next day another leaflet arrived saying it wouldn't be collected on Monday, but three days later on the Thursday.

"I rang the department and got through that time asking them to clarify the date and later got a leaflet apologising for the first two leaflets and saying that the bins would still be collected on Monday.

"In the end, they didn't collect them on the Monday, but a few days later instead.

"I have since tried to ring the cleansing department to find out what is happening, because we have no idea when the bins will be collected again. Some people have been putting them out on Wednesday,today but they haven't been collected.

"On the first day I must have rung about a dozen times, but the number was always engaged. "Eventually, I rang the town hall switchboard to ask them to put me through, but I was told the line was busy and I could be put into a queue if I wanted to. On the second day I tried to ring again and I kept standing by my phone pressing the redial button, but I still haven't been able to get through."

Director of Direct Services for Blackburn with Darwen Council Peter Hunt, said: "I am very sorry to hear about the problems experienced by Mr Wood. Due to Mr Wood's house now being on the boundary of two bin-emptying days contractors delivered the first leaflet incorrectly.

"However, as a result of the quality checks we made on 'boundary' properties we realised what had happened and arranged for a second leaflet to be delivered, with an apology, pointing out the correct day of collection is Monday. We have no knowledge of our staff delivering the third leaflet.

"We are receiving a large number of calls, as we would expect with a new system in place and, because of this, we have dedicated four extensions to the Cleansing Helpline on 01254 585921.

"We understand it may take time for residents to become accustomed to the new arrangements and we will not be removing bins that are not taken into properties in the interim period."