WORCESTER residents with queries and complaints about the new wheelie bin refuse collection service are asked to be patient as council staff plough through all the problems.

Head of Worcester City Council Environmental Serv-ices Mike Harrison said every query would be dealt with but, due to staff difficulties this week, the Wheeled Bin Helpline might not be manned all the time. An answering service is available when staff are unable to take calls.

He said the calls had died down but staff would be on hand to deal with them until they dried up completely.

He admitted the scheme launch had not gone as smoothly as hoped due to delivery problems.

"We had problems with the deliveries. We tried to ensure everyone had a bin. It is a mammoth operation as there are 25,000 bins this time around. We knew it was going to be difficult. There are a few people who are against the scheme but a significant number of queries are because people have not got bins or because they have got the wrong ones. We are ploughing through the complaints and problems. It is just taking time."

Mr Harrison added that council staff would soon be visiting people who had requested exemptions. He said there would be cases where it is not practical to use a wheelie bin. The council would then look to find a suitable alternative.

The city wheelie service is a pilot scheme for the whole of Worcestershire.