PORTISHEAD residents are calling for the return of weekly rubbish collections.

Householders who cannot accommodate wheelie bins are provided with grey sacks for residual waste. The sacks were collected weekly when the service was first introduced but are now collected fortnightly.

Gill Evans of West Hill says having four bags of rubbish hanging around for two weeks is not acceptable as they are often attacked by birds and cats leaving rubbish strewn all over her garden.

Under the Freedom of Information Act, Paul Maltby of South Road obtained a copy of the contract between North Somerset Council and contractors May Gurney, and says it states quite clearly that collection of refuse sacks should be weekly.

He said: “It is outrageous that residents without room for a wheelie bin are expected to keep sacks of rubbish at their property for two weeks awaiting collection.

“I expect the council to enforce the contract they have agreed with the contractors, after all it is the residents of North Somerset who are paying for it.”

As the warmer weather approaches residents using the sacks say they are concerned the unattended rubbish will attract vermin if left out over a two-week period.

A North Somerset Council spokesman said: “Collection of refuse sacks on a weekly basis are only carried out in areas where no kerbside recycling collections are in operation.”