AN angry mum says Worcester City Council has let her down over bin collections.

Nikita Kennard, aged 21, of Raleigh Close, Dines Green, said the problem started five weeks ago when refuse collectors refused to empty her green wheelie bin because it contained dirty nappies.

However, she claims that the only item contaminating the bin was a small piece of polystyrene which her 26-year-old husband Darren removed. But she said the council did not empty the bin for two more weeks.

Next, she said bin men refused to take up to 30 black rubbish bags, which would not fit in the grey wheelie bin. "We were getting rats, mice and cats ripping the bags open. We went down to the council to ask if they could take them away but were told we would have to get rid of them ourselves by car, which we haven't got, or pay £1.50 a bag for them to take them away, which we can't afford. I am a full-time mum and my husband only works part-time."

Mrs Kennard said the council eventually agreed to take the bags away and provide a bigger bin but took nine days to do so.

Mike Harrison, the council's head of clean and green said if people require extra bags to be collected there is a charge.

He said the family had been given a period of grace and not charged for the one-off collection because of the late arrival of the bigger bin.

He said that the council also offers an extra service for extra bags. "We do a skip collection at the Green Centre in Dines Green on the fourth Saturday of every month for people with any extra sacks of rubbish."