A RESIDENT has demanded a council tax rebate after council workers left his bin unemptied for two weeks over Christmas.

Neil Henderson said he was disgusted after his bin was emptied on Monday December 22 and then left until the start of this week.

Hyndburn Council today insisted extra shifts were put on at weekends so nobody would miss more than one collection.

"I want to complain most stringently to the council. I'm really incensed about this," said 54-year-old Mr Henderson, of Westcliffe, Great Harwood.

"It was all over Harwood, all the Christmas wrappings. It's an absolute disgrace. The bags have been out there for a week and dogs and cats have been into them."

Mr Henderson said he had spoken to the council's head of environmental services Steve Todd and was told workers wanted double time to work during the holiday.

The council is currently trying to avert a £1.8 million overspend by the end of the financial year.

A potential three-week wait for bin collections over Christmas in parts of the borough was averted at the 11th hour after council leader Peter Britcliffe called emergency talks between workers and management.

Mr Henderson said: "I rang up this week because there's no chance of getting anybody over Christmas.

"I want a rebate on my council tax. I pay £80 a month. I'm following up my phone call with a fax and email. I'm normally the most placid of people but this has just riled me."

Steve Todd, Hyndburn Council's chief environmental services officer, said: "In line with other councils, Hyndburn took the decision to review its refuse collection arrangements over the Christmas and new year period.

"To ensure that no household missed more than one collection, refuse collectors worked on Saturday, December 27, and Saturday January 3, and we thank residents for their co-operation with these new arrangements.

"Normal collections have now been resumed and we apologise for any inconvenience caused."