About 100 residents in Sandwell were warned that they face a fine of up to £5,000 if they fail to put out their bins correctly.

Private company Serco, which is responsible for the borough’s waste collections, sent out letters to residents in the Meyrick Road area of West Bromwich.

Serco took action after complaints were made that some bins were being put out too early or in the wrong place.

But the firm was forced to send the letters to innocent residents too because it was not clear who the culprits were. Grandfather-of-five Kevin Hadley, aged 51, who lives in Meyrick Road, said: “It made me very angry.

“I phoned Serco up and said ‘what is this about?’

“They said some residents weren’t putting their bins out on bin day. But we have always put ours out on the right day. My wife was quite frightened when we first got the letter, we thought we were actually being fined.”

Another Meyrick Road resident, mother-of-two Qumar Nisa, 44, said: “Our rubbish is always put out properly, at the right time and on the right day. I pay my tax and they don’t need to speak to us like that.”

The letters, signed by Serco’s waste and cleaning services area manager Mark Blades, said: “The local authority has the power to serve notice under the above legislation stating how, when and where household waste must be placed for collection.

“Failure, without a reasonable excuse, to comply with such a notice is an offence punishable on conviction by a penalty fine of up to £5,000.”

Councillor Derek Rowley, Sandwell’s cabinet member for neighbourhood services, said some people were putting out their bins too early or in the wrong place. He said this was causing the road to look untidy and had led to several complaints.