COUNCIL binmen have been criticised for not collecting a street's rubbish between Christmas and New Year.

Durham City Council was to have emptied bins and recycling boxes in Ashbourne Drive, Coxhoe, last Friday, but about 80 houses were missed out and festive rubbish has built up.

One of the residents, nurse William Johnstone, said: "There had been snow, but by Friday it was just slushy on the road. They did the bottom of the street, but not the rest of it.

"It is utter chaos.

"The bins are overflowing and there are black plastic bins. The recycling boxes are full. Because there was no collection, no one has been able to do any recycling."

He added: "It is not fair to the householders who have had to store up two weeks' rubbish. Dogs have been getting at the black bin bags and the street is a mess.

"It is the worst time of year for it to happen, because at Christmas bins are full of cardboard and wrapping.

"I spent one hour trying to get through to someone on the council's helpline. I was put on hold, I was cut off and when I did get through to someone, they said it was because of the weather.''

A spokesman for the council said the bins would be emptied today and blamed the weather for Ashbourne Drive's bins not being emptied.

"Because of the adverse conditions, the lads couldn't get to certain streets. We apologise to everyone who was missed out, but it was due to circumstances beyond our control.''