There are no plans to introduce wheelie bins in the Malvern Hills area in the near future.

That is the message from the district council, which says its rubbish collection system will continue to be based on coloured sacks picked up on a weekly rota.

Members of the public have expressed concern that the council could be about to switch to wheelie bins, which were overwhelmingly rejected the last time they were tried.

The council has recently reaffirmed its commitment to a countywide joint waste management strategy for future years. This will involve using two containers - which may or may not be wheelie bins - emptied on alternate weeks.

Ivor Pumfrey, head of environmental services, said: "We just want to assure residents that these are future plans - and when MHDC does consider this move, it will be after extensive consultation with our customers and it will be unlikely to happen before 2010."

Malvern town councillor Paul Tuthill said this week: "Some years ago this idea was proposed and then withdrawn when many residents objected. It was clear then, as it is now, how inappropriate such bins are for Malvern."