BUGS linked to the Black Death have been found in bins emptied every fortnight but health chiefs say the people of Worcester have nothing to fear.

The study by the University of Northampton found that bins emptied every two weeks tested positive for bugs from the same family which sparked the plague which killed 75 million people - one third of the European population - in just three years during the Middle Ages.

Worcester City Council introduced a fortnightly collection in 2005 but neighbouring Malvern Hills and Wychavon district councils still has a weekly collection.

Malcolm Cox, operations manager for environmental services at Worcester City Council, rubbished the idea that fortnightly collections, which save the council £300,000 a year, were a health hazard, branding reports in the national press as utter rubbish and scaremongering'.

Mr Cox said: "We had a very hot summer last year and we thought we would have problems with flies but we only had one complaint and that was about the smell. People don't realise the big picture. We have to meet European recycling targets. If we don't we get huge fines."

Mr Cox advised anyone concerned about the spread of bacteria to double-wrap rubbish.

Richard Harling, director of public health for Worcestershire, said: "There's no chance whatsoever of the Black Death sweeping Worcester. I haven't seen or been made aware of any evidence that fortnightly collections could lead to public health problems. The rubbish has to be contained and there are wheelie bins to do that."

Worcester City Council began introducing wheelie bins in November 2005. They are now found outside two thirds of Worcester's homes.

Complaints about rats have fallen from 964 in 2003/04 to 780 in 2006/07 but the council has yet to conduct any tests for bacteria in its bins.

The council has received no complaints from residents about the health implications of fortnightly collections and would only consider tests if there were complaints.

The change to alternate collections for green and household rubbish doubled the rate of recycling.

It is expected to reach 33 per cent in 2007/08 and 35 per cent in following years.

In Malvern, the Conservatives recently gained control of the district council after pledging to keep weekly bin collections.

The party's leader Serena Croad said: "Just because Worcester City Council has gone this way does not mean Malvern Hills has to follow."

Fortnightly rubbish collections could soon be introduced in Wychavon, after the council's rubbish collection service was put out to tender.

The university study involved taking swabs from a 240-litre wheelie bin over a 13 week period.