THE delivery of hundreds of blue recycling bins to parts of Rossendale this week has suffered a setback.

Production machinery broke down earlier last week meaning the blue bins couldn't be distributed as planned.

However, the council has said householders can expect their new kerbside boxes for recycling paper collections to be delivered in the coming weeks.

The bins were due to be delivered this week to parts of Edenfield, Rawtenstall, Irwell Vale and Stubbins.

The initiative is part of Rossendale Council's strategy aimed at recycling 28 per cent of all the area's waste by March 2004.

The authority, currently one of the best in the country for its green policy, recycles 16 per cent of household waste, ahead of the 2003 Lancashire-wide target of 10 per cent.

A spokesman for Rossendale Council said: "This is a small setback and we hope the manufacturers will get back on track very soon.

"For now, householders are being asked to keep putting their green bins and kerbside boxes out for collection on the dates stated on their recycling calendar.

"We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and we are doing everything possible to rectify the situation with the manufacturers.

"We will be distributing new information leaflets with new dates for the distribution of the blue bins to all residents when we have made new arrangements with the manufacturers."