WORCESTER MP Mike Foster has heaped pressure on the city council by suggesting bin collections for rubbish should be doubled.

With warmer weather on the way, the MP has called for the Guildhall to revert back to weekly collections rather than stick with the fortnightly service.

Mr Foster has sent a letter to about 1,000 homes to see if people agree with him that the service should be changed.

The city council has said it would look closely at the results of the survey, but warned against any changes to the service.

Most Worcester households now have a two-bin system, with recycling collected one week and general rubbish the next.

Mr Foster said: "I've sent out the letters to about 1,000 homes because I genuinely want to get opinions on this.

"Last time I did a random survey of the bin collection system, 72 per cent wanted a weekly collection for smelly rubbish like food.

"The smell of it is really bad, especially at this time of the year when it's warm. I've also got anecdotal evidence that it attracts maggots in the two weeks before collection.

"The city council is trying to save money by not doing it. It could reinstate a weekly rubbish collection if it wanted to.

"I don't have a problem encouraging people to recycle, but the food left for two weeks just stinks."

Since the Guildhall introduced the new system in October 2005, recycling rates for household waste have increased seven per cent.

The new system is designed to encourage people to be greener by putting recycling collections on the same footing as general rubbish collections.

Councillor Allah Ditta, cabinet member for cleaner and greener, said: "At the moment, the figures show the new system is working well in terms of encouraging recycling.

"It is working well, so I can't knock it. I am still open to suggestions for improving the service, though."

The letters, which were sent out this month, have gone out to some of the homes who started using the new service last year.