A COUNCIL has pledged that refuse collection will be among its top priorities if the fuel crisis starts to take a grip of its services.

Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe told a cabinet meeting that the council had around two weeks supply of diesel left and warned that some non-essential services may have to be cut.

He said: "Services have not been affected to date but contingency arrangements are in place to ensure refuse collection together with other essential services are given top priority.

"This may result in the reduction of other services not classed as priority."

He added: "We hope that problems nationally will be resolved before any noticeable difference in services. We will be meeting regularly during this crisis to ensure that Hyndburn Borough Council runs as smoothly as possible."