THERE'S no such thing as the wrong type of leaves when council workmen get going.

They are halfway through their annual 10-week programme to sweep the boroughs footpaths, gutters and gullies, and have already collected 70 tonnes of leaves which could otherwise have caused drains to flood and people to slip.

Mr Mike Savage, borough operational services officer, said: "I'm sure not everybody knows we have teams of staff going out there in all weather to do this work but it makes a huge difference."

The leaves are taken to Fernhill Transfer Loading Station, but cannot be recycled for compost because of possible contamination.