Bags of rubbish have been left to fester in streets in Sedgley after bin collections were missed. Dudley Council removed them today after residents’ protests.

Families living in Brownwalls Road, Woodbank Road, Dumbleberry Avenue, Coppice Close and Sandyfields Road were expecting rubbish to be removed earlier this week, but binmen did not arrive, leaving bags piled up outside people’s homes for days.

Residents were infuriated further when the regular collection expected yesterday was also missed.

Dudley Council chiefs today said the planned collection on Monday had been cancelled due to bad weather. Because of the backlog, yesterday’s collection was also cancelled.

Householders said two weeks without a collection was too long to wait and feared the rubbish could have attracted vermin.

Brownwalls Road resident Alison Buckley said: “We were not really expecting a regular collection last week, because it was only a day after New Year.

“We believed that, like other areas, a collection would be coming earlier in the week.

“This did not happen and we were left completely in the dark.

“When yesterday’s collection did not turn up either we were horrified as the rubbish was just piling up.

“It is not very pleasant and we have children walking along here to primary school.”

Woodbank Road resident Sue Rudd, aged 58, said: “Our main concern is that we live quite near fields, and you did not know what vermin this rubbish could attract.

“I think everyone gave last week the benefit of the doubt because it was just after New Year.

“But for it not to have been collected a week on was a bit much.”

Dudley Council spokesman Phil Parker said: “Roads in this area receive Friday collections, but due to the Christmas holiday working arrangements had been due to receive a collection on Monday.

“Following the heavy snow on Monday not all collections could be carried out.”

By Lee Watton