HOME owners in Hyndburn are facing delays of up to a month before council binmen will pick up bulk items of rubbish.

The delay was revealed today by the council's environmental portfolio holder, and is thought to be a result of Hyndburn Council's financial problems.

The news comes just days after one council officer won an award for recycling.

Now one local councillor has warned that the back streets of the area could become full of rubbish as people refuse to wait the required time, and dump the unwanted property.

A council environment boss has reassured residents that if they wait for the proper time, their rubbish will be collected eventually.

But Councillor Jean Battle, Church representative, said: "We are not doing so well on the bulk waste that is being left. It's still on the streets and it's going to be there for a month.

"A number of people have commented to say what a mess the back streets are because the bulk waste isn't being collected.

"Some people don't wait and they shove it out in the back streets"

Coun Ann Scaife, cabinet member for environment and cleansing, admitted the problem existed, and said it was down to the council's budget problems.

While Hyndburn Council tightens its belt to save cash, some services are suffering. If a bin wagon is taken out of service, the council simply cannot afford to replace it.

She said: "Its down to manpower and resources it's true that we are behind.

"We have had to make this very fundamental decision. We are going to do it right, and some resources are going to go on a downward spiral until we can actually look at everything and put it back on a sound footing.

"Residents are the customers and they should be getting a service. It's an absolutely top priority."

But Coun Scaife appealed to residents not to dump unwanted furniture and large goods, and wait for the correct amount of time for them to be picked up.

She said: "If they could, can they be patient? We can't do it at the moment, but there are reasons."