A spate of wheelie bin-nappings has left Wyre council chiefs faced with a £1,400 clearing-up bill after police were inundated with calls.

More than 70 of the council's grey wheelie bins - worth £20 each - have been reported missing to police in the borough since their introduction under the multi-million pound Recycling4Wyre initiative in April this year.

But - despite sending out thousands of leaflets advising people to contact police in the event of a missing bin - council officials now want residents to stop contacting their local station after officers were forced to deal with dozens of bin-napping incidents.

Instead the council are now asking people to log their loss with their environmental services department and say they will now deal with the situation themselves.

A council spokesman said: "It's important to say that we're not saying that this isn't a serious matter by advising people to contact us and not the police.

"It's just that both the police and ourselves feel this is a matter that can be handled without their involvement at this stage.

"We will certainly make sure that each report is treated with the concern it deserves."

More than 48,000 of the 240 litre "residual waste" bins have already been delivered to households alongside an identical green bin for organic waste, a 140 litre blue bin for newspapers and a 55 litre green box for glass, cans and textiles.

The council now fear the bins may be being "acquired" by neighbours who feel they have too much non-recycling rubbish for just one grey bin or people who just want additional "storage" at their property.

Wyre's Environmental Contracts Manager, Bill Acton, says anyone who finds themselves in this situation should contact the council immediately and they will send member of staff to investigate their circumstances.

Mr Acton said: "Some larger families will need two grey bins even if they are using them correctly.

"But they should not simply help themselves to an empty bin on the street

"They should ring us on 01253 891000 and we will try to help."

Anyone who wishes to report a missing bin or request an additional one should contact the council on 01253 891000.